Li Yuchun will lead Stanley Tong's Hua Mulan into battle

The winner of the SuperGirl singing competition in 2005 [think Idol for chicks I guess] will play the lead role in Stanley Tong's version of the Hua Mulan story. A role once rumored to be offered to Zhang Ziyi [here and here] Li Yuchun will be announced in the coming week for the lead in one of two Hua Mulan movies coming in the near future. This will mark her debut into film while she has yet to release a full studio album.

Oddly enough this may be suitable in a way. Part of Li Yuchun's success in the competition was her refusal to be sugary and bubbley, preferring to sing songs usually sung by men. Granted this tomboy image worked for her before and part of the Hua Mulan story is her portrayal of a man to get into the military this is the only bright spot I can see so far. Yep. Grasping at straws here.

TIME Asia aritcle here

[source]