90,000 People Are Trying To Stop Mulan Whitewashing Before It Happens

Hollywood whitewashing – the process of casting white actors in what should be roles for other races or minorities – has become a seriously controversial business in recent years.

And now signees of a new petition are hoping to cut it off at the pass.

90,000 people have already signed an online document aimed at Disney, ahead of its plans to make a live-action movie of its classic animation ‘Mulan’.

It aims to tell the Mouse House that fans do not want a white caucasian actress playing the lead role, which should instead be filled by an Asian actress.

“Mulan was based on a Chinese legend, the story of Fa/Hua Mu Lan, in which a young girl disguises herself as a man to serve as a soldier in the battle against an invasion launched by the Huns,” reads a statement accompanying the signatures.

“The character, story, and fans deserve the best retelling of the story Disney can produce, and although the film was only announced March 30th, this disturbing trend of whitewashing in big-budget movies can’t get a chance to take root in Mulan as well, and if any company can afford to ‘risk’ adapting a beloved story with a cast of POCs, it’s Disney.”

“Children benefit from finding themselves represented in fiction, which is part of why campaigns such as #weneeddiversebooks are so vital. It also perpetuates a standard of beauty and goodness wherein whites are considered the ideal and norm despite that not only are Americans diverse, but the entire world is.

“As for the acting community, keeping diverse actors out of what should be diverse roles severely limits the number of roles they can get, especially a potentially name-making role such as Mulan’s eponymous character would surely be.”

Added one signee from Missouri: “Mulan was my favorite movie as a child. To this day I can probably quote the entire movie. Mulan is such a strong, relatable, iconic role that encouraged me to ‘be true to my heart’. White washing her and the cast would defile what she has achieved for all these years.”

So far Disney has not made any announcements on casting.

Recent roles finding themselves accused of whitewashing have included Tilda Swinton’s in new Marvel movie ‘Doctor Strange’, Scarlett Johansson’s The Major in the forthcoming live-action remake of Manga series ‘Ghost In The Shell’ and Rooney Mara’s Tiger Lily in ‘Pan’.

Image credits: Disney