We’re about a year and a half out from Disney’s live action remake of Mulan, and the excitement is real. But I started wondering…if there were to be a sort of literary recasting of the movie, which literary characters would have the most in common with the movie characters?

1) Mulan = Zélie from Children of Blood and Bone

Bold, fighters, filled with righteous anger and concerned that they will dishonor their family, Mulan and Zélie have a lot in common.

2) Shang = Aragorn from Lord of the Rings

Once again we have two fighters, and particularly skilled horsemen at that. (Plus they’ve both got great hair if we’re considering the LOTR films.)

3) Shan Yu = Madame Defarge from A Tale of Two Cities

Shan Yu wants to destroy all of China, and Madame Defarge wants to destroy all of France. Sure, these countries are *slightly* different in size, but if Madame Defarge had been in Shan Yu’s shoes I believe she would have been capable of wreaking just as much destruction, if not more.

4) Chien-Po = Sam Gamgee from Lord of the Rings

Who else but a hobbit would appreciate food as much as Chien-Po? They’re also both considerably brave and kind.

5) Yao = Hareton Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights

Yao and Hareton look and act gruff on the outside, but on the inside they’re secretly big softies.

6) Ling = Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet

Mercutio, like Ling, is the class clown. Both of them enjoy making jokes–but like Chien-Po and Yao they are also quite brave.

8) Chi-Fu = Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice

Eager to please, but never pleasing. Such is the fate of both Chi-Fu and Mr. Collins!

7) Fa Zhou = Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird

These men are compassionate, calm, and collected. They are both willing to stand up for themselves and others, even when it’s hard, though in different ways. Fa Zhou is prepared to go to war despite his age and limp, choosing to serve the emperor at risk to his life, and Atticus Finch chooses to denounce racism even from deep within the South in the early 20th century. Both make choices that they know will put them in significant danger.

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But wait! I hear you asking. Who would Mu Shu be? I leave that to you, my creative readers. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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