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| Mulan (3D) Zhang Ziyi; UPCOMING 2011 RELEASE | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 30 2010, 03:39 PM (1,379 Views) | |
| Hitman-Reloaded | Jul 30 2010, 03:39 PM Post #1 |
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Black Belt 10th Dan
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Zhang Ziyi to produce and star in 3D Mulan film![]() Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is slated to both produce and star in a live-action English-language 3D film backed by Disney, based on the Chinese folktale Mulan, reported Chinese media. The film will revolve around the lady warrior Hua Mulan (Zhang), who impersonates a man to enlist in the army in her elderly father's place and repel an invasion of her homeland. Along the way, she becomes involved with fellow soldier General Li, who admires her and risks his life to hide her gender as state laws forbade women from joining the army. Zhang was said to have been planning this film since last year, but the project got shelved due to funding problems after she became embroiled in a string of high-profile scandals. She apparently went hunting for investors at the Cannes International Film Festival in May this year and managed to rope in Disney, who agreed to invest US$100 million (S$136 million) in the film. US director Charles Russel, who had previously directed "The Mask" and "The Scorpion King", has been picked to helm this action-heavy film. US-born singer-actor Wang Lee Hom, who speaks fluent English, is reportedly the favourite for the role of General Li. The film is tentatively scheduled to go into production in China in October. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ SINA SINA SINA |
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| Hitman-Reloaded | Sep 6 2010, 11:21 AM Post #2 |
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Black Belt 10th Dan
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De Bont to direct Zhang in ‘Mulan’ Indie English-language co-pro starts in China this fall By Jonathan Landreth Hollywood hitmaker Jan de Bont has signed up to direct Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi in an independently-produced, English-language co-production of the classic tale of Hua Mulan, the legendary young heroine soldier who joins an all-male army. “Mulan” is set to start shooting this fall outside Shanghai, where de Bont, the director of “Speed,” “Twister” and “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” will attempt to bring romance, action and drama to screenwriter John Blickstead’s recreation of the Chinese Joan of Arc story that was first described in a 6th century poem. The story was popularized around the world in the 1998 Walt Disney animated film of the same name. Zhang is one of China’s biggest actresses, and the new “Mulan” film comes at a time when the country’s movie business is growing by leaps and bounds at home but has scored relatively few hits overseas. Zhang is a recognizable star in the West for her roles in more than a few of the Chinese films that have crossed over, such as the Academy Award-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” the Palme d’Or-nominated “2046,” and the Oscar-nominated film “Hero,” the largest-grossing Chinese film export of all time. “Mulan” will be co-produced by Movie Plus Productions of Canada, Global Film Finance of the U.K., Beijing-based Bona International Film Group and SIMF Pictures, with Zhang, Ling Lucas and Beaver Kwei, the producers who brought China Zhang’s 2009 romantic comedy boxoffice hit “Sophie’s Revenge,” directed by Eva Jin. William Morris Endeavor, which represents Zhang, will handle North American rights to “Mulan,” while Arclight Films International’s affiliate Easternlight Films will handle sales outside of the North America and Greater China. “This is the first independent film directed by Jan de Bont, whose worldwide boxoffice track record is huge,” Easternlight managing director and "Mulan" producer Ying Ye told The Hollywood Reporter, saying that pairing de Bont, Zhang and the story of Hua Mulan was “a winning combination.” Executive producers are Paul Edwards, Jeffrey Chan of Bona International, Fred Wang of Salon Films, one of China’s largest film production equipment rental companies, and Jeff Kranzdorf. Individual “Mulan” producers include Mark Phillips, Ron Lynch, Steve Waterman (“Stuart Little”) and Movie Plus President Christopher Brough – who last worked in China in 2009 on Walt Disney Pictures’ “Trail of the Panda.” A Disney spokeswoman discounted as false Chinese press reports that said in July that the Hollywood studio would be backing the new “Mulan” to the tune of $100 million. Bona International’s Beijing-based parent company Polybona, which is run by Yu Dong, the company’s chairman, will distribute the film in China, where boxoffice receipts rose 86% from Jan.-June. Polybona also holds the exclusive rights for “Mulan” for Taiwan and Hong Kong. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to work with Jan and Ziyi to turn the Chinese legend of Mulan into a top-notch live-action movie for a worldwide audience,” Chan of Bona International said. As global interest in China rises now that the country’s economy is the world’s second-largest, domestic Chinese interest in old tales -- and the actors who play in them – isn’t what it used to be. While John Woo’s 3rd century war epic “Red Cliff” films both were hits here, “Confucius,” about the 6th century B.C. Chinese sage, tanked in theaters earlier this year and Zhang, who also starred in the 2005 Oscar-winning Hollywood period piece ”Memoirs of a Geisha,” was widely criticized in China for taking the role of a Japanese courtesan. Zhang’s rise to fame has also subjected her in recent months to sometimes vitriolic public criticism over charitable contributions she allegedly failed to deliver to a fund she set up to aid the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. She is also now set to play a victim of China’s AIDS crisis in an upcoming film by director Gu Changwei, a role more cynical bloggers say is a part of an effort to rehabilitate her image with the Chinese public. Producers on de Bont’s “Mulan” would not disclose financial details, but Brough said in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter that the film was “the perfect opportunity to bring to the screen the ideal synthesis of western and Chinese movie making skills with both a top actress and director, each of whom is globally recognized for their commercial and artistic success in equal measure.” De Bont will shoot the live-action theatrical feature at the gargantuan lots of the Hengdian World Studios, three hours drive from Shanghai in Zhejiang province. “Mulan” is expected to wrap in January. Casting director PoPing AuYeung (“The Karate Kid,” “Forbidden Kingdom”) is currently looking for fluent English-speaking Asian actors for the film. The production, now in preparation in Beijing, is set to move to Shanghai Sept. 15, according to a copy of the film’s casting call obtained by THR. Supporting roles in the film include Hua Yong, Mulan's 15-year old brother, described in the casting call “playful” and “plucky,” and as someone for whom “sword fighting and gymnastic skills” are a “definite bonus.” Other roles advertised are Mulan’s mother and father, a female mystic who plays alongside the story’s villain, and a handmaiden with one speaking line. According to sources close to the project, the film’s line producer is Shan Tam (“Rumble in the Bronx”) and the first assistant director is Sylvia Liu (“The Karate Kid”). http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ |
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| Hitman-Reloaded | Sep 9 2010, 11:33 AM Post #3 |
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Black Belt 10th Dan
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Jan de Bont to direct 'Mulan' Zhang Ziyi to star in $35 million pic By CLIFFORD COONAN Action helmer Jan de Bont has signed up to direct Chinese thesp Zhang Ziyi in a new English-language, $35 million live-action version of the folk story "Mulan," which its makers hope will wow auds both in China and beyond. Zhang will also co-produce the indie project, alongside Beaver Kwei and Ling Lucas, who collaborated with her on her successful romantic comedy "Sophie's Revenge" last year. Also involved are Movie Plus Prods. of Canada, Blighty's Global Film Finance, Beijing-based Bona Intl. Film Group and Salon Intl. Media Fund Pictures. "She wants to participate creatively in the project," Kwei told Variety. "The ambition is to appeal to both foreign and domestic audiences. 'Forbidden Kingdom' is the model and it shows that it works. "Mulan" is accessible for a Western audience," he said. Lensing starts in Hangdian Studios in Zhejiang province in November, and post-production will take place in Canada. As reported in Daily Variety from the Shanghai Film Festival in June, Chuck Russell was originally in the frame as helmer. The Dutch-born De Bont's other works include "Speed," "Twister," "The Haunting" and "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life." "Mulan," which is a bit like "Robin Hood" crossed with "Maid of Orleans," was made famous worldwide by the 1998 Disney animation, and there was another live-action version by Hong Kong helmer Jingle Ma last year. The 6th century text is a key element of Chinese folklore. Zhang, who first made international waves with her role in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and was in the Oscar-nominated "Hero." She scored a big domestic hit in China last year with her romantic comedy "Sophie's Revenge," helmed by Eva Jin. Zhang plays an HIV-Aids sufferer in Gu Changwei's forthcoming "A Tale of Magic." Original script is by screenwriter John Blickstead and a team of five writers has been engaged to make sure the pic works both in Asia and outside. William Morris Endeavor will handle North American rights to "Mulan," while Arclight Films Intl. unit Easternlight Films will handle sales outside of the North America and Greater China. The list of executive producers includes Paul Edwards, Jeffrey Chan of Bona Intl., Fred Wang of Salon Films and Jeff Kranzdorf. Individual "Mulan" producers include Steve Waterman, Mark Phillips, Chris Brough and Ron Lynch from Movie Plus. Bona Intl.'s Beijing-based parent company Polybona will distribute the film in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, said Chan. http://www.variety.com/ |
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| Hitman-Reloaded | Feb 18 2011, 04:21 AM Post #4 |
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Black Belt 10th Dan
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| zenparadox | Feb 19 2011, 12:01 AM Post #5 |
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Black Belt 3rd Dan
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With her cute ass face and small frame I can really mistake her for a man if she was wearing a helmet and armor. I don't know how many times this fable needs to be told, but all the best to her since she is backing it. |
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| King of Iron Fist | Feb 20 2011, 08:06 PM Post #6 |
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White Belt
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Wow its in 3D! Now i definately must run and see it... |
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