The Happenings

-- Hua Mu Lan --
Since a few years back, Stanley Tong and Michelle Yeoh had announced their intentions to film live action versions of Hua Mu Lan, but for whatever reasons, neither versions have come into being.

And now, Jingle Ma intends to shoot his version of Mulan in Hong Kong in February 2009, possibly starring Singapore singer Stefanie Sun Yan Zi and Louis Koo. The budget is around 50m yuan, and the film is being produced by Mainland film companies. Stefanie Sun's friend says that they are in negotiations, but nothing is finalised yet.

Disney, which made the hit animation Mulan in 1998, is also planning a live adaptation, budgeted at US$120m. Script was being written two years back. They hope to cast Zhang Ziyi and Donnie Yen in the leading roles, and hope to get Johnnie To to direct.

Johnnie To, having other commitments, would only be available towards the end of 2009. He says that he hasn't decided if he'd take up the offer.

Donnie Yen says that last year, he was indeed being approached to play General Li Guang alongside Zhang Ziyi , but hasn't heard any further word from them. He does not have any idea on when it'd begin production, but looks forward to it, nevertheless.  Lianhe Wanbao

-- Champions --
The 30m yuan Champions is said to be an actual true blue kungfu film, with backdrop set against 1936 Berlin Olympics where Chinese wushu was showcased out of competition. The poster states that the film features 15 wushu champions, with 15 martial arts styles being exhibited.

Costarring alongside Dicky Cheung is Xie Miao, who having grown up, has been doing kungfu productions like Legend of Shaolin Kungfu. Two other noted martial arts stars are Xu Xiang Dong and Yu Rong Guang, who had previously starred in Tsui Siu Ming's Holy Robe of Shaolin Temple as a Shaolin disciple and a Manchu official sent to take control of Shaolin respectively.

-- Legendary Assassin --
In one scene, shot in a rural village in Sai Kung, Wu Jing gets into a brawl with the giant wrestler Jiang Bao Cheng. Due to the sweltering weather, everyone was perspiring even before the camera rolled. But Wu Jing remained unaffected by the weather, and kept conferring with Nicky Li on the details of this scene.

To shoot this scene, Wu Jing had been going through the moves with Jiang Bao Cheng, and to achieve best results and create more impact, after looking at the playback, he would keep on discussing with Nicky Li and working out various ways of fighting. For each action, Wu Jing would only be satisfied after having done many takes. Jiang Bao Cheng, whose costume, wet with sweat, had long dried up, ran out of patient and bellowed, "So hot, so tiring."

Wu Jing immediately called Jiang Bao Cheng over to watch the playback together. It was only then do we see a big smile on the redoubtable giant's face. Even Paco Wong, who visited the set, was lavishing praises after seeing the playback.  HK Headline

On October 8, a press conference marking the launch of Ip Man official site, now carrying Ip Man trailer, was held. Following that, Wilson Yip, Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung proceeded to a chat organised by Sina, hosted by Zhao Ning. They were joined in by film critic Wei Jun Zi.