She was handpicked from 1,000 auditionees, across five continents.
And for the first time, the badass actress behind the forthcoming live-action remake of Mulan has been captured in character as the titular Chinese warrior.
Disney released a snapshot of Liu Yifei – better known as crystal Liu – wielding a sword in a red robe as production on the film began on Monday.
Chinese actress Liu – who serves as an ambassador for Dior and unsurprisingly, haircare brands Garnier and Pantene – features in the titular role of a woman who disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father.
The actress joins stars Jet Li as the emperor of China and Gong Li as a powerful witch, alongside Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee, and Chum Ehelepola.
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Mulans mentor Commander Tung will be played by Donnie Yen and her love interest Chen Honghui by Yoson An.
The update marks the 20th anniversary of the original Oscar-nominated animation, which was introduced in 1998.
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Disney will release three other live-action films before Mulan, including this years Christopher Robin (Winnie The Pooh) and Mary Poppins Returns and next year, Kim Possible, following the success of Beauty And The Beast and The Jungle Book.
Directed by Niki Caro, Mulan is being shot on location in China and New Zealand and will gets its US release on March 27, 2020.
MORE: Disney fans are convinced Mulan is bisexual in Ralph Breaks The Internet
MORE: Jack Whitehall to play first openly gay Disney character with Dwayne Johnson co-starring
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