Mulan voice actor BD Wong shared his thoughts on Disney’s upcoming remake of the film.
In 1998, Disney released an animated retelling of the Chinese “The Ballad of Mulan” that featured the voice talents of actors such as Ming-Na Wen and BD Wong. This year, Mulan is set to become the latest Disney film to receive the live-action treatment from the studio, but with notable changes such as the exclusion of BD Wong’s character, Captain Li Shang.
During an interview on Entertainment Weekly’s Couch Surfing, BD Wong noted that he is interested in seeing Disney’s Mulan remake and that he feels “no ownership” over the animated version. However, BD Wong added that he’s proud to have been a part of the animated Mulan and reflected on how rare it was for Asian actors to play lead parts in a Hollywood production at the time:
“I’m very proud to have been in that movie. It was one of the last movies they made where they actually drew the pictures, it was at the frontier of a time when Asian-American actors claiming Asian roles in voiceover became a thing. In a way that was really foreign to people before that, to have so many of the lead parts in that movie be played by Asian actors.”
Do you share in BD Wong’s fondness for the animated Mulan? Are you as interested in seeing the remake as BD Wong? Let us know your thoughts on BD Wong’s comments below!
Here is the official synopsis for Disney’s Mulan:
When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.
Directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Elizabeth Martin & Lauren Hynek, Disney’s Mulan stars Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor.
Disney’s Mulan will be released in theaters on March 27, 2020.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
