It looks like Disney has recast Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon, announcing that Kelly Marie Tran is voicing the studio’s first Southeast Asian lead character.
The role was previously held by Filipino-Canadian Cassie Steele.
Tran, who is Vietnamese-American, is known for portraying Rose Tico in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Raya and the Last Dragon tells the story of a warrior on a quest to find the last dragon. Though set in a fantasy world, it is said to be heavily influenced by Southeast Asian themes and cultures.
Here’s a first look, as shared by Entertainment Weekly:
The world as they know it is called Lumandra, “a reimagined earth inhabited by an ancient civilization.” Here, Raya will be driven by a need to save her kingdom which can presumably only be done with the magic of a dragon.
The project will be led by Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins as its co-directors, while Kiel Murray serves as its scriptwriter. The film is slated to premiere on March 12, 2021.
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