http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...4c86ced39f8b13

BEIJING – 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”).

According to a new report from National Geographic, Genghis Khan's genetic material has been identified in 8% of males living in what used to be the regions of Khan's empire. This is the first documented instance of a cultural event driving the genetic development of people in any region and can only mean one thing; Genghis Khan and his sons were gett'n it on. A lot!

Khan's eldest son Tushi had 40 legitimate sons. Kublai Khan had 22 sons and added 30 new virgins to his harem every year. We can probably guess what he spent his spare time doing.

One of Genghis Khan's favorite battle methods was wholesale slaughter of the male population in his conquered territories. This was followed by wholesale rape as one of the rewards of victory.

Genghis Kahn has 16 million living relatives today.

Beijing, August 29 (teslhome.com)---Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi was spotted attending a charity gala held by Shanghai More Love Foundation, as a temporary auctioneer.

She donned a black shoulder-off dress, glamourous and elegant as always. one source said that Zhang has cooperated with More Love Foundation for a long time and she went to Yushu area to help those victims several times this April. Squeezing time from full-packed schedule, Zhang made efforts to join in various charity work. It's unfair to blame her on this or that when it comes to charity. She's done it well and she did it wholeheartedly.

Check out my new 2011 Mustang GT. Of course, it has the Z1Y1 plates on it. The engine in it is pure art. 412 BHP at the crank.

Chinese renowned actress Zhang Ziyi holds the certificate of honor （荣誉证书）to be the Goodwill Ambassador of Shanghai Expo volunteers in Shanghai on July 28, 2010. She was honored as the ambassador Wednesday.[Photo/Xinhua]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/languag...t_11068973.htm

http://www.esquire.com/the-side/feat...n-stars-081210 :cool: