Mulan Live-Action News: Fan petition to cast Asian actress reached over 80,000; Jenna Uskowitz, Ming Na Wen linked for leade role

By Staff Writer

Nov 13 2015, 12:03 PM EST

A live action version of the 1998 famed animated feature, Mulan, is currently in the works in Disney. Morever, a petition is also going strong urging the mouse house to avoid whitewashing and cast an Asian actress for the lead role.

After the box office success of Cinderella and Maleficent, Disney is moving ahead and planning to release more live action films among which is the story of Mulan. However, according to Movie News Guide, the announcement that an American actress will play the role had fans discouraged and eventually a petition was started to urge the studio to cast an Asian actress instead.

As reported by iSchool Guide, the petition titled "Tell Disney You Don't Want A Whitewashed Mulan" is currently ongoing and has reached more than 80,000 signatures so far. The petition stated that an Asian actress must be chosen because "Whitewashing implies that people of color cannot be heroes (although they may at times be villains or supporting characters), leaving it far more difficult for countless children around the world to see themselves in the stories they love and think that they too can make a difference."

No actress has been officially chosen although Glee star Jenna Ushkowitz was previously rumored to be in talks for the titular role. Aside from Ushkowitz, Ming Na Wen who voiced the character in the previous movie was also linked to the role.

Plot details for the flick is still under wraps. It would be interesting to see how Disney would make the film since choosing an Asian actress for the character is also likely to entail casting Asian actors for Shang, Fa Zhou, and other characters as well.

Aside from Mulan, Digital Spy reported that Disney is also planning to release live action iteration for Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, The Jungle Book, and Dumbo. The film is currently written by Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek.

Chris Bender and JC Spink are expected to produce the live version of Mulan. No director has been attached to helm the film yet, but more details are expected to be revealed as soon as production progress.