Zhang Ziyi

First rumored a month ago and the subject of intense speculation in China for the past week, it is now officially confirmed that Zhang Ziyi’s next film will be The Night Banquet, a loose adaptation of Hamlet by famed Chinese director Feng Xiaogang.

Zhang Ziyi will be playing the Empress. Her costars will be Daniel Wu as “The Crown Prince”, Zhou Xun as the Prince’s lover, Ge You as The Emperor, and Ma Jingwu as the Minister. The film is expected to have acrobatic fight and dance scenes reminiscent of House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Of Zhou Xun’s role it is said she will have an elaborate dance scene and will possibly sing as well. Ziyi is also mentioned as possibly having a dance scene. It isn’t clear if any of the actors will have an actual “leading role” or if this will be a true ensemble piece.

Composer Tan Dun and Art Director Tim Yip, both of whom worked on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, will lend their talents to the film. Famed action choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping, also of Crouching Tiger, will be the film’s executive producer.

Reports say that Ziyi was approached with the script while at the Cannes Film Festival. While she was not planning to make any more films this year due to her tight schedule with Memoirs of a Geisha, after she read the script she decided she would accept their invitation to participate in the film.

The film is reported to have a $15 million budget and to begin shooting at the end of September.

For full story and more info:
http://www.helloziyi.us/Movies/night-banquet.htm