It has been confirmed that Kelly Marie Tran has joined the cast of Disney’s upcoming animated “Raya and the Last Dragon’ film as the voice of Raya. This makes her the first Southeast Asian lean in a Disney animated movie.

Originally Cassie Steele was to play the character opposite Awkawafina, who plays the dragon Sisu.

I am happy to see Kelly Marie Tran on this, I really do like her, even though, like many, I did not care for the character of Rose Tico in the Disney Star Wars sequels. But I do like the actress and I am excited to see her get this opportunity and can’t wait to see what she does with it.

The film is also getting Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada as directors. Qui Nguyen will also be joining as a co-writer.

Here’s the list of those joining according to Deadline:

“Also joining the Raya and the Last Dragon team are Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Moana) and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting) as directors, as well as playwright Qui Nguyen (Vietgone) who will join Adele Lim as co-writer. Paul Briggs and John Ripa serve as co-directors. Dean Wellins, who was originally announced as a director alongside Briggs, is directing another project at Disney Animation. Peter Del Vecho (Frozen, Frozen 2) joins Osnat Shurer (Moana) as a producer.”

It sounds like there’s been some changes because the film is scheduled for March 12, 2021, but it was originally supposed to be released on November 25, 2020. Something like this, coming out this soon, should have had voice actors, directors and writers already locked in and well on it’s way. So something is going on here.

The synopsis for the film is:

“In the mysterious realm called Kumandra, a warrior named Raya seeks for the last dragon before Druun an Evil Force Destroys the Realm.”

Hopefully we won’t see it pushed back again, but if they are just now moving on it and changing out people, I expect a new date again.

For now ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ is scheduled for release on March 12, 2021.

What do you think? Comment and let us know.

Source: Deadline, Wikipedia