Disney had opened up about a release date of 27th March, 2020 for the movie version of Mulan a long while ago. However, beginning with the complete erasure of Li Shang, the captain of the Chinese Army who falls in love with Mulan, some changes in the upcoming movie include the introduction of a new character named Chen Honghui who is set to become Mulan’s eventual love interest in the story, thereby replacing Shang’s role entirely. On the 6th of June, Disney finally confirmed that Kiwi actor Yoson An had been cast in the role of Chen Honghui for the upcoming movie.
Yoson An hails from New Zealand, is of a direct Chinese descent, and has previously acted in HBO series Grace, and is thus, set to find his first major role in the character of a young and confident recruit who goes on to join Commander Tung’s army as Chen Honghui. Yoson is set to star opposite to Crystal Liu, a very popular American-Chinese actress who had been confirmed to be a part of the Mulan cast a long time ago. A report from the Hollywood Reporter also includes the latest news of Chum Ehelepola and Utkarsh Ambudkar being cast in the roles of the con-artists Ramtish and Skatch respectively.
Disney had made it clear once that this upcoming movie would only hire a primarily Chinese cast which would suit the original setting of the movie being set in the country. Other famous ethnically Chinese artists like Jet Li, Gong Li, and Donnie Yen have also assumed their roles as other characters forming the main cast of the film. Directed by Niki Caro, the movie is set to begin filming in the August of 2018 primarily in New Zealand, and China itself.