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My Kingdom
The Sorcerer And The White Snake
The Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate Hong Kong film rides high Films from Tsui Hark and Johnnie To headline exciting projects in the pipeline from Hong Kong. By Liz Shackleton
THE FLYING GUILLOTINES Following their collaboration on Body- guards And Assassins, Teddy Chen will direct and Peter Ho-sun Chan produce this $15m action project about an elite crime-fighting unit in the emperor’s court, trained to use flying blades to decapitate people. The cast is headed by Taiwanese heartthrob Ethan Juan and mainland star Huang Xiaoming, while Yuen Bun is on board as action chore- ographer. Int’l sales We Distribution
kat@wedistribution.com
THE FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE Tsui Hark is remaking his 1992 martial arts classic, Dragon Inn, in a 3D version with backing from Bona Film Group, China Film and other mainland investors. Jet Li and Zhou Xun star in the $35m film which is in post-production. Int’l sales Distribution Workshop
virginia@distributionworkshop.com
THE GREAT MAGICIAN Derek Yee is directing this $15m period mystery starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai. The story revolves around a master illusionist in the early 1900s who uses magic tricks to save his country and win back the woman he loves. Stephen Tung Wai is also on board as action choreographer. Currently in pro-
duction, the film is co-produced by Emperor Motion Pictures and Bona Film Group. Int’l sales Emperor Motion Pictures
mayyip@emp.hk
LIFEWITHOUT PRINCIPLE Johnnie To is directing this thriller about three people whose destinies become entwined when a loan shark is assaulted after withdrawing $10m from a bank. The film has been in production for some time, but To’s long-gestating projects are always his best. Lau Ching Wan, Richie Jen and Denise Ho head the cast. Int’l sales Media Asia Distribution
ricky_tse@mediaasia.com
THE MONKEY KING Hong Kong’s Filmko and Mandarin Films are financing this $30m 3D fantasy based on Chinese classic Journey To The West. Hol- lywood talent has been brought on board including VFX supervisor David Ebner (Alice In Wonderland). Soi Cheang is direct- ing and the cast includes Donnie Yen, Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwok. Int’l sales Filmko, Mandarin Films
dominicyip@filmkoholdings.com
MOTORWAY Soi Cheang, whose Accident screened in
n 34 Screen International at the Cannes Film Festival May 13, 2011
competition at Venice in 2009, is also direct- ing this high-speed action thriller, revolving around a showdown between a dangerous getaway driver and a rookie cop. Johnnie To is producing, as he did on Accident, and the cast is headed by Anthony Wong, Shawn Yue and Guo Xiaodong. Int’l sales Media Asia Distribution
ricky_tse@mediaasia.com
MY KINGDOM Chinese director Gao Xiaosong and Hong Kong action director Sammo Hung are col- laborating on this martial-arts epic, which is set in the world of Chinese opera in 1920s Shanghai. Although a period film, the project is aiming at the youth market with a hot young cast including Wu Chun, Barbie Hsu and Korean pop star Han Geng. Celes- tial Pictures and Andre Morgan’s DW Films are co-producing with China’s Skyland Films. Int’l sales Celestial Pictures
peter.poon@celestialpictures.com
THESORCERER AND THEWHITESNAKE Jet Li and Eva Huang (Kung Fu Hustle) star in this $25m fantasy epic directed by Hong Kong film-maker and action choreographer Tony Ching Siu-tung. Huang stars as the white snake of the title, who transforms into a beautiful woman to rescue and live with
the man she falls in love with. The film is currently in post-production for a summer release. Int’l sales Distribution Workshop
virginia@distributionworkshop.com
THEWINDSEEKER Alan Mak is set to direct this 1950s-set spy thriller from a script by his regular screen- writing partner Felix Chong. Tony Leung Chiu-wai is attached to play the blind assist- ant to a piano tuner who is drafted in to a spying mission due to his exceptional hear- ing abilities. Production is scheduled to start at the end of the year, after Leung has finished work on Derek Yee’s The Great Magician. Int’l sales Mei Ah Distribution
sara@meiah.com
WU XIA Screening in the Midnight section at Cannes, Peter Ho-sun Chan’s first martial- arts film as director also marks the first on- screen pairing of action hero Donnie Yen and heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro. Chan’s We Pictures is producing with Beijing- based Stellar Group and other mainland investors. The $20m production is being lined up for a summer release. Int’l sales We Distribution
kat@wedistribution.com n
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