Yahoo News Disney's live-action Mulan remake casts Jet Li
The much-anticipated live-action Mulan remake has added two massive new names to its cast
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Disney movie is likely to land Jet Li as the emperor of China, who in the original animation orders the mandatory conscription of one male from every Chinese household into the army.
Producers are in final talks with Li, one of China's biggest stars and known for his martial arts prowess. He has appeared in films including Shaolin Temple, Lethal Weapon 4 and The Expendables 3.
Another big signing that's reportedly on the cards is one of China's most famous actresses, Gong Li. She's set to play a powerful witch who acts as the villain of the film, a brand new character who didn't appear in the animation.
She's appeared in a number of Chinese-language films as well as Memoirs of a Geisha, Miami Vice and Hannibal Rising.
There's also a third new addition to the cast, with Chinese-Vietnamese actress Xana Tang lined up to play another new character in Mulan's sister.
The live-action Mulan, based on Disney's 1998 animation, will star Liu Yifei as the titular heroine who decides to disguise herself as a man and head to war in her father's place to keep him safe.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star Donnie Yen will play Mulan's military mentor, Commander Tung, while Whale Rider's Niki Caro is directing the film.
Mulan is set to be released in March 2020, after it was recently pushed back nearly two years by Disney.
Thankfully, reports that the film will not feature any of the classic songs – such as 'I'll Make a Man Out of You' and 'Reflection' – have been rubbished by Caro, who said that no decisions have been made yet.
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