In the Pipeline

-- Yip Man --

Donnie Yen makes an appearance for a newly launched Chinese entertainment magazine in Shanghai and he is asked about Yip Man's biopic that Mandarin Films is producing. Yip Man's eldest son, who serves as consultant for this project as well as Wong Kar Wai's version, has mentioned before that Donnie Yen was the prime choice to play his father.

Rather than giving a definite reply, Donnie Yen says that he's still pondering over it, "Actually, I am facing quite a bit of pressure, Yip Man was behind the founding of Wing Chun sect in Hong Kong. I can't tarnish his image." On being queried who is best suited to play the role of Yip Man, Donnie Yen replies, "Tony Leung is an acclaimed actor, I can't be compared with him in acting; however, in terms of martial arts, can he be compared to me?" Donnie Yen reveals that the sets are being constructed and production may begin next January.  Daqing Daily

-- Thangka --

Director Cheung Chi Leung is working on preproduction of in a wuxia movie 《唐卡》 Thangka. Thangka refers to a type of Buddhist painting or embroidery that can be rolled up and transported easily. Concerned about the difficulties of moving Buddha statues across highlands as she's married off to Tibetan King Songtsän Gampo, Tang Princess Wencheng had them painted instead. Written by Liu Heng Dan, the film tells of a pugilist being arranged as a stand-in for Princess Wencheng by Emperor Li Shimin in order to protect her from assassination as she travels to a foreign land. Cheung Chi Leung hopes to get Andy Lau and Tang Wei to star in Thangka. Set-building has already begun, and filming, which begins sometime in 2008, is expected to take several months in Tibet.  Nanfang Daily

-- China Film Group to Co-produce Hollywood Action Films --

China Film Group announces that it's currently in talks to collaborate with Hollywood studios on three movies. The first plans on getting Will Smith and either Stephen Chow or Jackie Chan on board, with either of the latter playing a Chinese stuntman who changes the life of a withdrawn American kid. The kid would be played by Will Smith's son while he may take on a villainous role. The second is Taichi Tiger, a project planned by Keanu Reeves to fulfill the wish of Tiger Chen. He'll play a supporting role while Tiger Chen the protagonist. Keanu Reeves, accompanied by Tiger Chen, visited Sichuan recently for location scouting. The third is Disney's remake of Snow White, whose cast is so far unconfirmed, though some names have been mentioned.  Yangcheng Evening News

-- Seven Swords 2 --

Sun Hong Lei reveals that Seven Swords 2 film is still an on-going project and Tsui Hark has been working on the script. He estimates that production might possibly begins next year. Charlie Yeung, who's invited, along with Sun Hong Lei, to a ribbon cutting ceremony, would not say anything about the script other. She believes Tsui Hark would give her a role that would be a delightful surprise. On the hand, Ciwen Pictures, the studio behind the TV version of Seven Swordsmen, is putting the TV sequel on hold due to high costs involved as well as the audience's declining interest on ancient series.

Tsui Hark had recently completed filming of Missing, a mystery about one of a couple gone missing at an ancient underwater ruins off Yonaguni Island. He also has several other projects ahead including 《女人不坏》 She Ain't Mean, which is a somewhat modern version of Peking Opera Blues, and Di Ren Jie. In addition, he has just acquired the rights to Jing Xu Feng's suspense novel 《天眼》 Divine Eye which deals with cracking of an enigmatic case in the recent 100 years.  Chengdu Evening News