In the Pipeline

-- Snow White and the Seven Shaolin Monks --

Jet Li might be joining Natalie Portman to star in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Shaolin Monks (tentative). Yuen Wo Ping will be the martial arts director for this US$70m film. In this modern version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Jet Li will lead six other Shaolin monks to guard the princess played by Natalie Portman. As the script is still being worked on, whether there'd be a Prince Charming has not been disclosed.

The magic mirror was shattered into seven fragments and the witch stepmother of Snow White who fell off the cliff managed to survive. The witch sets out to gather the seven fragments of the magic mirror in order to restore her beauty and regain her witchcraft. After 1000 years, she has recovered six fragments of the mirror, and discovers that the last fragment lies with a rich family's daughter, who is the reincarnation of Snow White. So, the witch attempts to track down the girl and kill her. Shaolin Temple, which has been secretly guarding this fragment of magic mirror for a 1000 years, sends seven Shaolin warrior monks to protect the girl.  Wenwei Paper, Shanghai News Times

-- Dancing Fist --

Tong Yao, who graduated from Central Drama Academy in 2002 and has background in dancing, is training for over eight hours daily to prepare for her role in 《舞拳》 Dancing Fist/Fistplay (tentative), an upcoming contemporary action comedy directed by Li Feng, who also wrote the script. She says that this is her first work with Li Feng. She was drawn to the project by the script and is obsessed with the characters, as well as the martial arts choreography. She's very excited to be working with Tiger Chen Hu, Yuen Wo Ping's protege. Hoping to become an action star, she goes through rigorous training under Yuen Wo Ping Stunt Team members (video) and intends to perform all action herself. She says that the movie will be a showcase of authentic martial arts. Tong Yao plays opposite Tiger Chen as a girl who gets bullied. After learning the arts of defence from a coach she meets, she goes back for revenge. Eventually, she realises that the greatest enemy is herself. Production begins in August.  Sina