Stephen Chow's next feature film will be Yangtze River VII. The sequel to his international success Kung Fu Hustle will be put on hold whilst the actor-director goes to Ningbo, in southeast China, to shoot this sci-fi romance. 　　

 

The film is co-produced by Chow's Star Overseas Limited, the China Film Group Corporation and Beijing PolyBona Film Publishing, and has an estimated budget of US$13 million. 　　

 

Stephen Chow hopes to make even more extensive use of digital effects than was employed in the original Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer. 　

 

The film will also feature Chinese mainland newcomer Zhang Yuyi opposite Chow. This seems to be a trend, coming after the recent announcement of Ang Lee's choice of Chinese mainland newcomer Tang Wei for the lead in his espionage thriller Lust, Caution.

 

(hkfilmart July 24, 2006)