It's no secret that Hollywood has a history of whitewashing—casting white actors in non-white roles. This has been occurring for decades, and when it was announced that Mulan would be turned into a live-action movie, people became (understandably) worried that the whitewashing plague would take over the beloved Disney movie. The fear spread after a Mulan spec script surfaced on the Internet, stating that a "30-something European trader” would fall in love with a teenage Mulan. People were so worried that they even created petitions in an effort to prevent white actors from being cast.
The fact of the matter is that Hollywood has plenty of talented and qualified Asian actors who can play roles that are true to their ethnic background. Moreover, Mulan is such a badass Disney princess, and deserves to be portrayed by someone who can bring the character to life appropriately.
For now, fans can rest easy, because a source has revealed that Mulan and her love interest in the live-action adaptation will be played by Chinese actors. Speaking to Vanity Fair, the studio confirmed that Mulan will be played by a Chinese actress, and her main love interest will be played by a Chinese actor. Moreover, the spec script that caused a frenzy was only meant to serve as a method to help the filmmakers determine how they would retell Mulan's story.
"The spec script was a jumping-off point for a new take on the story that draws from both the literary ballad of Mulan and Disney’s 1998 animated film," the source told Vanity Fair. "Mulan is and will always be the lead character in the story, and all primary roles, including the love interest, are Chinese."
Thank goodness.