Disney has been digging deep into its library of classic animated movies in recent years to adapt them for live action, and while some, like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, have followed the original stories relatively closely, others, like Maleficent, have taken notable creative liberties. In the case of the upcoming Mulan, while the basic premise of its 1998 animated predecessor is being kept intact, its lineup of characters is almost completely brand new. Until today, the only characters from the animated Mulan who were announced for the live action version were Mulan herself and the Emperor of China, but now it's being reported that Ling and Po will both be appearing as well.
According to Deadline, Jimmy Wong and Doug Moua have been cast to play Ling and Po, respectively, in the live action Mulan movie. Wong is best known for his role in the digital series Video Game High School and for his voice role in the Sony animated movie Wish Dragon, while Moua has appeared in Gran Torino, Blue Bloods and Iron Fist. So while audiences will be meeting the majority of the live action Mulan's cast for the first time, at least there are a few more familiar faces to accompany the eponymous protagonist.
In the animated Mulan movie, Ling and Chien Po, along with their diminutive comrade Yao, were among the fellow recruits at the training camp Mulan traveled to, and like everyone else, they had no idea she was actually a woman. Although this trio didn't get off to the best start with the heroine, eventually they befriended her, and even after after her secret was revealed, they helped her save the Emperor of China when Shan Yu and his men attacked the palace. There's no word in this report on whether or not Yao will appear in the live action Mulan movie, but if these versions of Ling and Po are anything like their cartoon counterparts, they'll be a source of comedic relief. That being said, given how stacked this movie's cast is, I can't help but wonder if Ling and Po won't be as important to the story as they were in the animated Mulan.
While specific plot details details for the live action reimagining of Mulan are being kept under wraps, like its predecessor, it will follow a young woman who takes her father's place in the Chinese army disguised as a man. Along with Jimmy Wong, Doug Moua, Liu Yifei as Mulan and Jet Li as the Emperor of China, the cast includes Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, the leader of an Imperial Army regiment and Mulan's mentor; Yoson An as Chen Honghui, a fellow recruit in Commander Tung's unit who becomes Mulan's most important ally and eventual love interest; Gong Li as the main antagonist, a powerful witch; Jason Lee Scott as Bori Khan, a warrior leader who allies himself with the witch; Xana Tang as Mulan's sister; and Utkarsh Ambudkar and Chum Ehelepola as Skath and Ramtish, a con artist duo.
Directed by Niki Caro, Mulan will be released in theaters on March 27, 2020, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage on its progress. In the meantime, feel free to look through our 2018 release schedule so you can keep apprised of what movies arrive later this year.
