Board Thread:Fanon: Season 8 & Beyond/@comment-34684159-20180529131217/@comment-34684159-20180701211448

'Once Upon a Time' tells Mulan's surprising backstory -- with special guest characters

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A long time ago, we were presented to the Once Upon a Time version of Mulan, in the second season premiere. The character had a recurring role in the first half of Season Two, before returning for special appearances in seasons Three and Five. Her last appearance on the show was in "Ruby Slippers", where she helped Ruby - aka Red Riding Hood - find love.

But, during all those years, we never got to see Mulan's own backstory. And now, in the next episode of the eighth season, it's finally coming! Yes, that's right: the episode "Great Wall" will tell Mulan's story before she met Prince Phillip and started her journey on the show.

And for that, there are a few characters from earlier seasons who are also returning, and new guest stars to portray characters directly from the Mulan legend and movie!

Sarah Bolger and Tzi Ma, who portray Aurora -- Mulan's unrequited love -- and the Dragon -- who, before this episode, had no relation to her whatsoever. They are both expected to appear in more episodes of Season Eight -- Bolger, especially, is returning in the fourth episode, "Sweet Dreams".

As for the new characters, Matt Len-Vesarof Bicoin was cast to portray Li Shang, Mulan's love interest in the Disney film (his casting call describes him as "a strong Chinese man who is someone you could count on. He has a well-defined moral compass, and would always fight for what he thinks it's right, hoping to always defend anyone who needs help"). Whether he'll be her love interest here too, it wasn't revealed. Rephe Temi was cast as the Emperor, and Roym Madem was cast as Mulan's mother.

Additionally, actress Fisn Adsoem Horn has been cast in a mysterious recurring role as Ying Yue. Her casting call describes her as "a beautiful Chinese woman who, after accomplishing her dreams, finds out they are not what she expected, and is now once again looking for her place in the world". No other details were given.

"Great Wall" airs on Friday July 6, on the Once Upon a Time Wiki.