Before Ming-Na Wen was S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Melinda May, she was the voice of Chinese legend Fa Mulan in the 1998 Disney animated feature Mulan.
Mulan has been a recurring character appearing on ABC’s Disney fairytale crossover series Once Upon a Time, played by Jamie Chung. The series has made certain adjustments to the character, giving her a romantic subplot with Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
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Wen has spoken before about how important the story of Mulan is to the Chinese people, so we thought we’d ask for her thoughts on Mulan’s Once Upon a Time incarnation when we spoke to her ahead of tonight’s episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
“I think Once Upon a Time definitely takes incredibly liberties in creating their world, and their stories, and Mulan is one of those folklore that’s out there for people to bend at their will,” Wen said. “If it serves their storyline, that’s fine, but it certainly isn’t the true fable, and the true folklore of who Fa Mulan was. That’s just taking liberty, artistic license, and I’m fine – you know, that’s what we all do. At Marvel, we try very hard to really stick with what the comic book fans love, but of course we have to tell stories week, after week, after week. Samuel Jackson playing Nick Fury is a good case. I think we do have to always take that into consideration that we are trying to create new stories and new ideas. I love those people at Once Upon a Time.”
Once Upon a Time airs Sundays on ABC.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
