Disney’s live-action “Mulan” will reportedly feature an all-Chinese cast

Fan fears about a whitewashed live-action Mulan came to a head when the blog AngryAsianMan posted an essay in response to an apparently leaked script for Mulan that Disney had purchased.

The essay outlines how this script centers not on Mulan, and not even on a Chinese love interest, but rather “a 30-something European trader” who eventually falls in love with Mulan but ends up being China’s savior. The post predicted major backlash if this script were to be used, and fans were already fearing a less-than-ideal cast, going so far as to form petitions about the casting gifts.

Those fears, however, seem to be unfounded: Vulture reports that two new writers, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Jurrasic World), have been hired to work on the script, and that a source confirmed that this script was only “a jumping-off point.”

“Mulan is and will always be the lead character in the story, and all primary roles, including the love interest, are Chinese,” says the source.

There’s been no word yet on who exactly will play Mulan and the other characters in the film, but it is relieving to know that Mulan will be played by a Chinese actress at the center of her story, just as she was in the 1998 Disney film. Disney has already announced a global casting call to find their new Mulan, so be on the lookout for future announcements about the film’s (hopefully Chinese) cast.