My fantasy cast for Red Hibiscus PART ONE

Red Hibiscus is a fantasy novel. It is centred around Chinese culture, mythology, folklore and history. The work also connects China and the Caribbean through the narrative technique of flash forward. The main protagonists, Chu hua, Zhaohui and Ren, are diviners who can see the destruction that colonialism and indentureship will cause in centuries to come. Red Hibiscus is a riveting tale which has magic, action and even the occasional philosophical aphorisms. Readers can enjoy the story for what it is, an engrossing story. More academic readers can enjoy the links to postcolonialism and oriental studies.

In this post, I want to share my fantasy cast if Red Hibiscus is ever adapted into a film. Most of the actors and actresses are Korean but I had to choose a Chinese actress to give a specific character the justice due.

Ding Chu hua
She is one of the diviners and hones flower-based magic. Kim so hyun is the perfect actress to capture her fierceness and elegance.

Qi Zhaohui

She is another member of the "mythic" trio. She is a fighter and inventor. A diviner who has an interesting relationship with the gods. Her magic relies on familiars. Lee Sun Bin is more than capable of demonstrating the strong feminist aura this character possesses. 

Murasaki Ren

He is the lone male of the trio. He is also the only Japanese of the trio. He is clever and intelligent. He may come off as stoic and rigid but he is a loveable character at his core. Lee Jong suk is ideal in displaying the different sides of Ren. 

 

Ryu

Ren's bodyguard and travel companion. Lee tae hwan is perfect for the bodyguard role!

Lady Xiao Li

A goddess of my own creation who is a powerful force of nature. She strikes fear in the hearts of men after making their hearts skip a beat because of her celestial beauty. Only Dilraba Dilmurat can bring this deity to life. (She is the only Chinses actress on this list) 

The Huli Jing (Kitsune)

A fox demon who has haunted China and Japan for centuries. It is a staple in Chinese and Japanese literature. A trickster and a sinister seducer Kitsunes have been revered as demons, monsters, gods and heroes. Namgung Min has the charisma needed to match this character. 

The Senri

This is a jaguar monster. Sung hoon has the build to recreate the strong and imposing aura of this monster.