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On November 2, Sunday afternoon, a press conference for 《苏乞儿》 True Legend, directed by Yuen Wo Ping, was held in Beijing. The cast for the film includes Zhao Wen Zhuo, Zhou Xun, Gordon Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Guo Xiao Dong, Andy On, Jay Chow, Will Liu, etc.

True Legend official site, containing production diary, character designs, concept arts, stills, videos, news, etc. was made known, and a short behind-the-scene footage was shown. Doubts were raised by the reporters concerning Jay Chow playing a martial arts doyen responsible for raising Beggar Su's skills since he lacks martial arts and acting ability.

Global Chinese Kungfu Jubilee 2007

Sohu, 13 October 2007

Global Chinese Kungfu Jubilee, organised by Shenzhen Satellite TV, Shaolin Culture, TVB, China Wushu Association, was held at Shenzhen Bao-an Stadium on the October 12 evening and was graced by various luminaries in the film industry who's involved in martial arts productions. The evening kicked off with red carpet walk by Jackie Chan, wuxia novelist Jin Yong, Liu Chia Liang, Ching Siu Ting. Cheung Sing Yim, Peter Pau, Yuen Biao, Cheng Pei Pei, Anthena Chu, Jay Leung, Josie Ho, David Chiang, Gordon Liu, Wu Jing, Tony Jaa, Yasuaki Kurata etc.

-- The Five Venoms --

Remake of The Five Venoms, directed by Kirk Wong, will begin production at the end of October in Shanghai. Maggie Q, Edison Chen, Wang Lee Hom, Huang Xiao Ming, Wu Jing, RZA, Gordon Liu are being invited to join the production. . In this remake that is set in 21sth century, Edison Chen will play the junior most disciple commissioned by his Master Gordon Liu before his death to deal with five other treacherous disciples. Martial arts director Dion Lam has already entered the production and begun discussing the action scenes with director Kirk Wong, who has been a vegetarian for over 20 years despite being a director of or actor in violent action movies.  The Beijing News

-- Five Venoms Remake --

According to Celestial Pictures, Five Venoms remake will begin production in September with a tentative release date in around 4th quarter of 2008. The US$15m feature, which taps into 5 unorthodox skills, Lizard, Snake, Toad, Centipede and Scorpion Styles, will be shot in Shanghai, Haerbin, and possibly USA. Director Kirk Wong says that major changes are being made to the remake, which will be set in contemporary days in a fictitious city. A female role will be introduced in the form of Spider Lady. Tentatively, Jay Chow, Edison Chen, Maggie Q, Huang Xiao Ming and Wu Jing are being considered to play the Five Venoms while Gordon Liu their master.  The First

-- Qi's Army --

On January 12, production of martial arts film 《戚家军》 Qi's Army kicked off in Hengdian. Qi's Army is about General Qi Ji Guang of Ming Dynasty who recruited 3000 marines at Yiwu to defend the nation, driving away the pirates. The movie will be divided into three parts - recruitment drive, pirates suppression, national defense - and will also be filmed on location in Japan and Korea. The cast includes Chan Ho (playing the lead role as Qi Ji Guang), Bruce Liang, Gordon Liu (plays the bald-headed pirate captain), Xie Miao, Jia Li Li. The film is scheduled for summer release. Sohu | Photos: Sina, ZJRB

-- Wing Chun --

Wing Chun TV Series, produced by Hong Kong's Universe Entertainment Ltd, will begin production soon. The martial arts comedy, which emphasises authentic martial arts sequences, stars Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Nicholas Tse, Rain Li, Hu Ke, Zhao Xue Fei, Philip Ng, Xu Xiang Dong, Ji Chun Hua, Gordon Liu. Wing Chun is based on 1981's kungfu film The Prodigal Son, which starred Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Lam Ching Ying, and Billy Chan.

Sammo Hung hopes that the audience will be able to re-experience the thrills of authentic martial arts, since the films and TV series these days employ too much special effects, and martial arts scenes are but empty poses. And he also looks forward to working with Yuen Biao again.

Billy Chan, producer for the TV series, hopes to blend elements of martial arts comedies of yore with the rebelliousness of the younger generation into the drama serial. Stephen Tung Wei will be the martial arts director. To prepare for his role in the TV series, Nicholas Tse has been training in Wing Chun under the tutelage of Lai Ying Chau, Yip Man's disciple, since last November.

At the turn of 20th century, Leung Jan (Yuen Viao), will his kindness and superb medical skills, is well-loved by the the people of Foshan. His eldest son Leung Bik (Nicholas Tse), is a gifted but arrogant brat who loafs around. Owing to the founder's rules that the successor of Wing Chun must possess wisdom, compassion and valour, Leung Jaan has forbidden Leung Bik to learn the martial arts.

Leung Bik runs away from home in a fit of anger. He arrives in Hong Kong and meets the mischievous Uncle Wah (Sammo Hung), a martial descendant of Wing Chun, by chance, and inadvertently picks up Wing Chun. Ko Ming (Sammy Hung), whose love for Little Bun is spurned by the latter who in turn carries a torch for Leung Bik, seeks to fight a death match against him. Ko Ming is skilled in Iron Thread Fist, taught by Master Hung Fu.  Chang Jiang Daily

-- Heroes of Shaolin --

Legendary Martial Arts Director Lau Kar-Leung (Liu Chia-Liang) has begun working on what he has referred to as his greatest work, Heroes of Shaolin, which will be the culmination of over 50 years of experience and over 300 movies for the 69 year old director. The film is currently in pre-production and is being produced by Burning Shaolin Production, out of New York. It is targeted for production in early mid 2007 in Mainland China.

Lau is considered an industry anomaly; often writing, directing, choreographing and starring in many of the classic Kung-Fu movies from the 70’s and 80’s. He is single handedly credited for creating the genre of Kung-Fu movies as we know them today. Lau has gone on record as to say, “This will be my best movie, and the best martial arts movie ever made.”

According to Hong Kong martial arts movie legend Gordon Liu, the revolutionary director didn't have to say much to obtain his services other than this film was to be his greatest masterpiece. Heroes of Shaolin will be an action packed martial arts film with spectacular fight sequences and of course signature Lau Kar-Leung training scenes. As well as something new for Lau Kar-Leung, an unconventional love story. Gordon Liu will be reprising his role of White Brows, the traitorous white-haired priest.

A remarkable Shaolin Monk Luk Ah-Choi escapes from the destruction of his home (the Shaolin Temple) and takes refuge in a local village where he falls in love with the beautiful, jaded and lethal Yim Wing Chun. Together they struggle to organize a rebellion against the oppressing Qing Dynasty. Distracted from his true mission by his vendetta against the murderous traitor White Brows (Gordon Liu), Luk Ah-Choi jeopardizes all in this 19th Century epic of love, life and vengeance.

Other cast considerations and talks include Zhang Ziyi, Chow Yun-Fat, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa.  PRWeb

-- Kung Fu Monkey --

HK's 《猴拳宗师》 Kung Fu Monkey recently began production on Dec 3. The movie is currently being filmed in Hengdian. The kungfu movie relates to scion of Xi Qiao, Feng Shi-Er (Tan An-Ye, a US Muay Thai champion), a martial arts fanatic. After challenging Iron Bridge and being defeated, Feng Shi-er seeks tutelage under him, and gets embroiled in the tussle between Iron Bridge (Bruce Liang) and Northern School's Monkey Fist King (Gordon Liu). Bruce Liang's protege Chen Shi also has a role in the movie as his enemy. Bruce Liang reveals that he'd still be playing The Beast in Kung Fu Hustle 2, which is going to be filmed later next year. Sina

-- Shaolin Vs Evil Dead DVD --

Everyone does zombie fighting in this rousing martial arts horror comedy starring Gordon Liu and Fan Siu Wong who play rivalling disciples contending for the leadership of their clan using all means of sorceries. However, their battle awakens King of Vampires who has laid dormant for a thousand years. So, the two of them must unite and use Five Element Formation to deal with it before it destroys the entire world. Directed by Douglas Kung, also starring Shannon Yao Yao and Shi Xiao Hu. Shaolin Vs Evil Dead 《少林疆尸》 DVD is now available at YesAsia.

-- Seven Swords Begins Production --
The Seven Swords film has begun production quietly in Xinjiang's Tiechanggou on Aug 31 morning, one day ahead of schedule. Tsui Hark and part of the cast arrived in Xinjiang on Aug 30. As the cast-members who have already arrived were ready and to expedite filming, Tsui Hark brought forward the production date. Filming will take three to four months, after which six months will be spent doing post-production in Australia.  Xinjiang City Daily