April
15
Weinsteins Embrace Asia Fund
The Weinstein Co. is eager to claim a piece of The Forbidden Kingdom, which Lionsgate and TWC will open wide April 18, as the first film from its $285-million Asian Film Fund. TWC plans to continue financing the development, production, acquisition, marketing and distribution of a large slate of Asian-themed films. Next is Mikael Håfström's 40s action epic Shanghai, starring John Cusack and Gong Li, and a contemporary remake of Akira Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai.
The Forbidden Kingdom marks the first-ever onscreen pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li. American teenager and Kung Fu fanatic Jason (Michael Angarano) finds an antique Chinese staff in a pawn shop, which turns out to be the legendary stick weapon of Chinese warrior the Monkey King (Jet Li). Jason is suddenly transported back to ancient China where he meets the drunken kungfu master, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), who helps him on his quest to return the staff to its rightful owner. The film is shot by Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and choreographed by Woo-Ping Yuen (Crouching Tiger, The Matrix, Hero).
Written by Hossein Amini, Shanghai starts shooting on May 5th in London, and then moves to Thailand. (Word is the production is still unable to get permission to shoot in China.) The Weinsteins plans to release Shanghai in North America on December 25, 2008.
TWC is in talks to hire a director and cast on Seven Samurai, and is hoping to start filming in the last quarter of 2008.



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