Here's When 'All American' Returns in 2021, Sexy Movies on Paramount+ That Arenât 'SpongeBob Squarepants', Wendy Williams Appears to Fart and Burp Live on Air, How to Watch St. Patrick's Day Concerts: U2, Dropkick Murphys, and More, Tom Hollandâs Butthole Scene In âCherryâ Will Haunt Me For the Rest of My Life, How to Watch the "South ParQ Vaccination Special", 'Southern Charm' Star Kathryn Dennis Posts Instagram Picture With Daughter During Reported Custody Battle. Fans are not pleased â particularly because Shang had been hailed as a meaningful bisexual character. And that imbues a possible romantic arc with a deeper satisfaction. In the years since the initial release of Disney's animated classic, Mulan, her love interest, Li Shang, has gained a lot of popularity, partly because many see him as Disney's first bisexual character. Actually, Honghui is one of the first soldiers to start talking to Mulan as a friend, directly addressing her when theyâre in group settings. Disneyâs Live-Action Mulan Does NOT Have Mushu: Hereâs Why. Mulan producer Jason Reed has discussed recently the decision to split Li Shang into two different characters, and how this was influenced by both the passage of time and the #MeToo movement. But the real difference between Honghui and Shang comes from the stakes involved with their positions. In the animated Mulan, the title character meets Li Shang, who starts out as a leader and mentor for Mulan, but by the end of the story, he's a ⦠And heâs just as much a bisexual icon as Shang ever was. they make it clear he HATES mulan the whole time sheâs presenting male. (After that conversation, guardian dragon Mushu scolds her for checking him out and getting distracted from the mission at hand). 'Operation Varsity Blues': Netflixâs College Admissions Scandal Doc Shifts Blame Away From Parents, 'The Last Blockbuster' and 'Netflix Vs. But she inspired him to defy direct orders and stand up for what he believes is right, while he gave her support, friendship, and validation when she needed it most. With Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Li Gong, Jet Li. Many viewers have theorized that Shang is actually an LGBTQ character due to his strong bond with Mulanâs male alter ego, âPing,â which became an official romance after Mulan was revealed as a woman toward the end of the film. Blasphemy, I know. The World' Are a Nostalgic Double Feature Worth Streaming. This story has been shared 7,073 times. Caro admittedly does sideline the other soldiers in order for Honghui to grow. 2,808, This story has been shared 1,547 times. note: This story contains spoilers for Mulan (2020) and Mulan (1998).]. But Chen Honghui won my heart when I saw him in action. disney is obviously still mad they accidentally made li shang bisexual, so theyâre REMOVING ANY POSSIBILITY that âchenâ is seen as bisexual. Mulan, with its interrogation of gender roles, has always been chock full of queer subtext and it doesnât take a lot of deep reading or fan theories to read Shang as bisexual. 628, This story has been shared 588 times. 7,073, This story has been shared 2,966 times. (Real Shang fans will know that he didnât pursue Mulan until after she leaves the Chinese army, but whatever.) “I think particularly in the time of the #MeToo movement, having a commanding officer that is also the sexual love interest was very uncomfortable and we didnât think it was appropriate,” he said. Note here that Mulanâs agency is still merely in filling her fatherâs shoes; her identity is locked into proving she can do a manâs duty. 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A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. Donnie Yen plays Mulan's commander and mentor, Commander Tung. Mulan producer Jason Reed told Collider in ⦠Heâs risking his life and status, because he believes and trusts her. He watches her closely in a way that definitely reads like he has a crush, even if he thinks sheâs a man. This scene is from Mulan 2. The new Mulan trailer left fans with many questions about Mushu, Li Shang, and the songs from the original. According to producer Jason Reed, weâll actually still have Li Shang in the new Mulanâsort of. The other is Honghui (Yoson An) who is [Mulanâs] equal in the squad.”. In Mulan 2 while traveling through bandit country, the group (Mulan, Shang, Ling, Yao, Chien-Po, and Princesses Ting-Ting, Mei, & Su) are attacked by bandits. “I canât really say to a lot of how that will come across but there is a multi-dimensional layer to him and the audience will be able to see that when they watch the movie.”. He offers her a hand up, condescendingly calling her âlittle man.â On the defensive and thirsting to prove herself, she refuses his help and immediately goes for her sword, holding it up to his throat â and he does the same to her. When I visited the New Zealand set of Mulan in October 2018 ... check out my articles on the biggest differences from the animated film and why the character of Li Shang was cut. But instead of being the bully that early reports made him out to be, heâs the first one to approach her and try to form a friendship. The filmâs producer, Jason Reed had spoken to Collider about the filmâs creative technique to portray or introduce the popular Li Shang character in the movie. In the new ⦠Which means Hongui should be considered just as much a bisexual icon as Li Shang. If all this reminiscing makes you curious about the rest of the original animated characters, check out our handy guide to the 1998 Mulan cast before you catch the live action film tomorrow. According to Reed, the decision was linked to the rise of the #MeToo movement. Theyâre given crass, loud dialogue in group settings that usually serves as noise for Honghui to cut through so he can address Mulan directly. During his appointment in the first movie, he is a highly capable leader with a dedication to his cause. 861, This story has been shared 628 times. If the filmmakers intended to start this relationship off in an antagonistic, non-romantic way, they totally failed. Captain Li Shang, the powerful, dashing army leader we have to thank for one of Mulan‘s catchiest songs won’t be a part of the 2020 remake when it drops on Disney+ tomorrow (Sept. 4). ... âYou have to go see it. That character description did him dirty. Look, I love bisexual icon Captain Li Shang as much as the next Disney fan. In the original 1998 movie, Shang doesnât really interact with Mulan, beyond the musical sequence where heâs barking orders at everyone. She first meets Honghui after sheâs accidentally knocked back in line by some bickering soldiers and falls on her butt. It then left room for Li Shang to become Mulan⦠It was built from the very beginning. It absolutely feels like heâs making a point of talking to his crush, who is a bit too awkward to speak up during group banter. This split also happened for Li Shang, Mulan's love interest in the animated original: BD Wong voiced Shang while Donny Osmond provided the singing voice. They do, admittedly, get off on the wrong foot, but Mulan gets off on the wrong foot with just about everyone in the army. For one, it wonât be a musical â so no singing along with âIâll Make A Man Out of Youâ â and also, thereâs no Li Shang (Mulanâs love interest has been replaced) or Mushu. https://t.co/vsj5B9uDGp, Li Shang was a Leader, he didnât bully anybody lmao his relationship with Mulan went from disappointed to respect to admiration to love. Wong originally voiced the inspiring leader in the animated Disney film, who formed a close bond with Mulan’s soldier alter-ego, Ping, and also became a love interest for her character. Directed by Niki Caro. For years, fans have argued that Shang, who starts to develop feelings for Mulan while sheâs disguised as Ping, is bisexual. 1,286, This story has been shared 1,202 times. It is a mature take on the Mulan legend and one that changes the style to bring in wuxia influences and explores important ideas of self-worth, ⦠Unlike what the casting call implied, his view of her doesnât change because he realizes sheâs a woman. Disney's upcoming live-action Mulan remake won't have Mushu the talking dragon out of respect for the original, according to director Niki Caro. 1,547, This story has been shared 1,482 times. The new "Mulan" splits the role of Li Shang into two parts. 1,202, This story has been shared 1,197 times. Mulan (2020) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 1,194, This story has been shared 1,119 times. Wong) regiment in the army in her fatherâs stead. 1,063, This story has been shared 905 times. Animated Disney movies are still bereft of any meaningful LGBTQ representation, so audiences have eagerly claimed characters and stories for their own. It doesnât feel like heâs saying âHurr durr, women are so complicated,â so much as like heâs confessing he feels emotionally attracted to men. Realizing that the rope can only support the weight of one person, Shang risks his life to save Mulan ⦠They have a brief conversation when the emperorâs adviser, Chi Fu, tells Shang his soldiers arenât ready, and Mulan assures Shang that heâs a great captain. She is even more out of place here than in the original movie, adjusting her binder in the secrecy of the early morning, and volunteering to take guard shifts during shower time. Honghuiâs burgeoning crush on Mulan is further solidified when he has a bit of a heart-to-heart with her, asking if sheâs been matched with anyone for an arranged marriage yet. ... who is credited simply as âCricketâ in the live-action movie, does have ⦠Unlike in the animated movie, Honghui doesnât follow Mulan home and show up at her doorstep. The ambiguity of their relationship status works: At that point, Honghuiâs attraction and curiosity, coupled with Mulanâs aloofness, have evolved into mutual respect. 'The Mighty Ducks' Trilogy Streaming on Hulu and ESPN+ Ahead of Disney+ Series Debut, Jennifer Garner Is a National Treasure in 'Yes Day' And Also, Always, Disney+ Restricts 'Dumbo,' 'Peter Pan,' More From Kids Accounts For "Negative Depictions", 'The Muppet Show' on Disney+: 10 Must-See Episodes You Should Not Miss, âZack Snyderâs Justice Leagueâ Producer Deborah Snyder Talks Sequels, Reshoots and the âHeartbreakingâ Theatrical Release, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Honest Thief' on Amazon Prime, Another Movie In Which Liam Neeson Has To Teach Some Bad People A Lesson, New Movies On Demand: 'Adverse,' 'Crock Of Gold' + More. Then he goes on to confide to her that he has a hard time talking to women, and itâs so much easier to talk to men. Last ⦠In the live-action Mulan, Li Shang is split into two characters: Commander Tung (Donnie Yen), who serves as a sort of father figure to Mulan (Liu Yifei), and Cheng Honghui (Yoson An), a fellow soldier. When Will 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Be Free on Disney+? Related: Mulan: What Disney+'s Live-Action Remake Does Better Than The Animated Original Aside from the traditional aspects, Mulan introduces some new ideas and translates the messages of other versions of the same story that came before. People werenât happy with that, claiming the take ruined Shangâs supposed bisexuality. "We split Li Shang into two characters. Get news & recommendations for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, and more, in your inbox. 'Operation Varsity Blues' Netflix: Who are the 33 Parents Charged? Up until this point, the reason Li Shang was excluded from the upcoming âMulanâ remake has been mysterious as the dark side of the moon. Now, a producer for the new movie is finally revealing why. But the new film still has a love interest for the titular hero. He is often disparagingly called a 'Pretty Boy' due to his dashing good looks and strong physique. However, in the new film, Li Shang will ⦠1,197, This story has been shared 1,194 times. Honghui fought alongside Mulan and is saved by her. Li Shang is dead. This is also the scene where Mulanâs own feelings start to bubble forth, as she quietly tells him that she thinks women would like him. If the live-action Mulan succeeds at anything, itâs in encapsulating the sheer awkwardness Mulan feels in the camp, trying to hide her true identity and fit in among the male soldiers. Yes, Shang still has my whole heart, especially his awkwardness when he reunites with Mulan. The singer who provides the singing voice for Mulan also provides the singing voice for Jasmine. But aside from that brief interaction, Mulan and Shang donât ever spend much time together off the battlefield. 1,482, This story has been shared 1,286 times. Mulan producer Jason Reed told Collider in February that the film got creative when it came to incorporating the beloved character. When the news broke two years ago that Disneyâs animated Mulan character Li Shang, captain in the Emperorâs Imperial Army, singer of the workout classic âIâll Make a Man Out of You,â and bisexual icon, was not going to be in the new live-action Mulan, fans of the original movie took to social media to complain. he bullies her up until he finds out sheâs a woman. Mulan II is a 2004 American direct-to-video animated musical adventure film directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerland. In the 1998 animated film, Li Shang was Mulanâs commanding officer when she joined the army, helping her through a lot. He isnât Shang, but he isnât a weak afterthought, either. Mulanâs live-action love interest is better than her old animated one, casting call that circulated around the internet, Animated Disney movies are still bereft of any meaningful LGBTQ representation, fundamentally and deeply change each other. He may even be a more nuanced character than Shang, especially when it comes to his sexuality. We already know that Mushu is missing from the live action Mulan remake, but another character from the 1998 original also didn’t make the cut for the Disney+ film. Eventually, the pair blossomed into an implied romance in the end when Mulan is revealed to be a woman. 588. Honghui is clearly drawn to her, even if he canât particularly articulate why. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. But I am a sucker for an ending where two characters fundamentally and deeply change each other, and part from each other in a bittersweet way. They share a moment right before Mulan returns home. While saving the princesses, the bridge Mulan and Shang are standing on breaks, leaving the two dangling off by a loose rope. Li Shang isn’t listed in the credits of the live action remake, but he does make an appearance in an unconventional way. But when Honghui stands up for Mulan â after sheâs been exiled from the army, but returns to warn them that the emperor is in danger â he doesnât have any position of power. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Lupe' On HBO Max, A Drama That Explores Themes Of Immigration & Transgender Identity, Stream It Or Skip It: 'So My Grandma's A Lesbian!' 905, This story has been shared 861 times. And this replacement of Li Shang is not even the first major change that the new, live-action Mulan is making to the original animated story. Honghui might never follow Mulan home. Honghui is a bit smoother than Shang and his âYou fight goodâ line, telling her that heâd like to say goodbye to her properly before she rides out of his life. "Mulan" continues to lure us into the comforts of a well-worn badass trope when she rebels against these expectations and leaves to join Li Shangâs (B.D. Li Shang isnât listed in the credits of the live action remake, but he does make an appearance in an unconventional way. iâm disgusted. Placing him on equal footing with Mulan gives the story a different flavor, and a fulfilling arc for the character, building up from an attraction to a mutual respect. Chen Honghui only seems to be trying to play the enemies-to-lovers trope, though we donât know for sure the type of love but we can only assume, LI SHANG IS THE BEST AND SEXIEST DISNEY âPRINCEâ EVER AND THEY DID HIM DIRTY I SAID WHAT I SAID. In the animated movie, Shang spares Mulanâs life and is one of the few people who listens to her when she explains that Shan Yu and his followers are out to kill the emperor. He notices that sheâs very skilled, especially after she demonstrates her superpowered chi thing. By placing Honghui in closer proximity to Mulan, the filmmakers immediately build more of a relationship between the two characters. “We split Li Shang into two characters,” Reed explained. Part of the reason director Niki Caro chose to change Shang was because of the unfortunate implications of Mulan getting together with her commanding officer. Not the best first meeting, but not proof that heâs a bully, either. “One became Commander Tung (Donnie Yen) who serves as her surrogate father and mentor in the course of the movie. Alexis Anna Aguirre. While Mulan and Shang don't get together until after he finds out that she is actually a woman, many believe that his attraction to her started when he still knew her as Ping, a male soldier. No Li Shang in the new Mulan film Li Shang has not been credited in the film but surely has a small appearance in it. Shang Li is still a great character in the original and is as much part of the characterâs iconic status in LGBTQ culture as Mulan is. 'Borat' Vs. 'Hamilton' Vs. 'Greyhound' Vs. 'Wonder Woman 1984': What Was The Biggest Streaming Movie of 2020? If ⦠Instead of being lovable comedic buffoons, they all blend together, apart from wide-eyed Cricket, another new addition to the movie, played by Jun Yu. 2,966, This story has been shared 2,808 times. Since Li Shang is both a fellow soldier and Mulan's commander, his relationship to Mulan is more complicated. Where Is Rick Singer From Netflixâs 'Operation Varsity Blues' Now? But why would they change such a popular, iconic character? By clicking "SIGN UP" above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice. But hear me out: because Honghui is now just a soldier, he establishes an actual rapport with Mulan early on in the movie, so the burgeoning attraction he feels toward her is present from the very beginning. It is mentioned that he was first in his class in regard to military affairs and was knowledgeable in training tactics. Mulan bluntly refuses him, though it comes off as a countermeasure to protect her identity, and not because she doesnât enjoy his company. 1,119, This story has been shared 1,063 times. In the original, the generalâs son Li Shang trains the recruits and ultimately falls for Mulan. [Ed. Mulan appreciates this and the two share some awkward smiles as they bridge the gap of friendship. When it came to his erasure in the movie, many felt that it was a deliberate move on Disneyâs part to erase the queer subtext from the original animated movie. Unfortunately, Li Shang doesnât appear in the live-action Mulan, apparently because filmmakers took issue with the power dynamic between himself and Mulan, given that heâs her commanding officer. An, who plays one half of Li Shang’s character, Honhui, assured fans that the dynamic between Mulan and Li Shang remains, but it’s been updated for the 2020 version, which he sees as “a different variation from the animated version and the original story of The Ballad of Mulan.” “I kind of took a different angle from Li Shangâs character,” he explained. As it plays out onscreen, Honghui has it bad for Mulan, even if he thinks sheâs a dude. Disney's Mulan is out in cinemas on July 24th! Heâs partially able to do this because heâs an army officer, and has the authority to bring his people in to foil Shan Yuâs plot. According to reports on set, Mulan's guardian dragon has been replaced with a phoenix. B.D. So there won’t be any “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” but it sounds like Mulan has a fresh, exciting take on Li Shang. As with the animated movie, Honghui and Mulan donât officially get together at the end. 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They share a brief hand-clasp of respect, and he says heâll meet her again. so the new character relentlessly bullies mulan bc she's better than him until he find out she's a girl, hoah fence but i hate him and our bisexual king li shang would never https://t.co/D0d0Z82CRY, li shang was our bisexual icon and you took him from us. So is Shang, but Shang also helped train her. When the news broke two years ago that Disneyâs animated Mulan character Li Shang, captain in the Emperorâs Imperial Army, singer of the workout classic âIâll Make a â¦