Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is expected to star in a live-action version of Mulan, which will be jointly produced by Harvey Weinstein and Beijing-based City Glory Picture Company.

 

Weinstein is one of Hollywood's most prolific heavy-weight producers known for his role as executive vice-producer for blockbusters Lord of the Rings and Kill Bill.

 

 

The deal between Harvey Weinstein and the Beijing-based City Glory Picture, calls on the partners to split the US$20 million cost of Mulan.

 

Staff with City Glory said that is the first time Weinstein has invested in a Chinese production.

 

Hua Mulan, a legendary Chinese heroine, is the protagonist of a folk tale that has been told for centuries in China. She was a young woman who disguised herself as a man to take her father's place in battle 1,500 years ago.

 

The story was first put on the screen in a 1956 Chinese production, 50 years before it was adapted into a cartoon film by Walt Disney Inc.

 

"Mulan enabled Walt Disney Inc to rake in US$300 million, which no doubt left an indelible impression on Weinstein," said a City Glory staff member who asked to remain anonymous.

 

A famous Taiwan scriptwriter wrote the script four years ago with encouragement from Malaysian-Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh, who starred in the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

 

"We got the script with the help of Michelle Yeoh," the City Glory staff said, adding that the script "was hot property among overseas film makers."

 

Both Yeoh and Chinese mega-star Zhang have been courted by other producers who have for several years attempted to put together a live-action Mulan production.

 

"We will select the right cast and crew for Mulan from among the most popular stars and directors," the City Glory staff said, stressing that the original Mulan story will be preserved.

 

Shooting is expected to begin next February.

 

Besides signing on for Mulan, Zhang also has signed on for two other movies to be produced by Weinstein, including a remake of Japanese classic The Seven Samurai, a news report said.

 

Zhang confirmed she would star in the three movies when she met Weinstein at Cannes, the Chinese-language news website Sina.com reported last Friday.

 

The report did not say what the subject of the third film would be.

 

Zhang's roles in both movies will involve her playing women disguised as men, the report said.

 

In the remake of The Seven Samurai, Akira Kurosawa's 1954 classic, Zhang will play a villager who dresses as a man to protect herself from bandits, Sina.com said.

 

Zhang was last seen in the Hollywood drama Memoirs of a Geisha. Her new movie, the Chinese-language, Hamlet-inspired ancient court drama The Banquet (Ye Yan) is due for release later this year.

 

(China Daily June 8, 2006)