Disney has finally found a leading lady to play the titular role in Mulan. Stateside audiences, prepare to meet actress Liu Yifei (also known as Crystal Liu), the Chinese star tasked with bringing the role into live action. Liu was picked after a year of speculation over who would star in the new adaptation, and Disney reportedly sorted through nearly 1,000 candidates before picking her, according to the The Hollywood Reporter.
Liu, 30, has previously starred in a number of TV shows and films, including Chinese-American projects like the 2008 action-fantasy The Forbidden Kingdom—which also starred Jackie Chan and Jet Li—and the 2014 film Outcast, featuring Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen. That action experience will serve her well for the role of Mulan, a tomboy who eschews her domestic life to become a legendary warrior.
Per T.H.R., Liu is also already a bankable star in China. She recently headlined the fantasy romance Once Upon a Time, which earned $82.3 million, and is currently serving as a brand ambassador for Dior, Tissot, Garnier, and Pantene. She’s a known entity with hits…
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