A digital painting of Disney's Hua Mulan by Finnish design student Jirka Väätäinen Photo: IC

Liu Yifei Photo: IC

Disney announced on Wednesday that Chinese actress Liu Yifei would play the lead role of Mulan in the new live action remake of the company's 1998 animated classic of the same name.

"Liu Yifei Has Been Cast as #Mulan in the Upcoming Live-Action Film" the official Disney Twitter account posted.

This will make the 30-year-old actress the first Chinese actress to ever star in a Disney live action remake of an animated film.

Liu was chosen out of nearly 1,000 candidates for the role which requires credible martial arts skills, the ability to speak English and the star quality, reported Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday.

The Mulan story is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. First recorded in a Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589) ballad Mulanci (Song of Mulan), the story features a young woman named Mulan who secretly takes the place of her aged father on a conscription list and assumes the role of a man to attend the army.

According to the Disney announcement, the remake will be based on both the Chinese ballad and the 1998 animated film. The film will be directed by Niki Caro and produced by Jason Reed, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner.

The news quickly made it to the top of the most-searched chart on China's Sina Weibo on Thursday and sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media platforms. Many Chinese netizens celebrated the news and said that the actress was a good fit for the role.

"Fortunately Liu knows martial arts, English and how to ride a horse. When she starred in The Forbidden Kingdom [a 2008 Sino-US martial arts co-production], I thought at the time that she would be the right one to cast as Mulan," wrote Sina Weibo user Shen Yanchi.

"Pride of China!!! Was so afraid that they would choose Korean American actress Jamie Chung, but it turns out to be Liu Yifei! Amazing!!!" wrote Sina Weibo user draco0605.

However, some were indifferent to the news.

"Why so much excitement about a Chinese being chosen for a remake of a Chinese story?" wrote netizen Hola Zhangyujun.

Some netizens suggested their own choices for the role, such as renowned Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.

In China, fans have given Liu the nickname Shenxianjiejie (Sister Fairy) since she has been cast in a number of angelic roles in Chinese mainland period dramas.