Wu-Jing.org

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

A clip showing a training sequence whereby Jet Li and Jackie Chan teach Michael Angarano some basics in kungfu, with a newer trailer attached at the back: IGN

Poster: Aint It Cool News

-- Forbidden Kingdom Trailer --

Forbidden Kingdom theatrical trailer is now available at Yahoo Movies or  ForbiddenKingdomMovie.com.

-- Ngai Sing Interview --

In November, I was invited by Richard Cooper, the publisher and editor of Screen Power and Jade Screen Magazines, to get in touch with Collin Chou to find out if he was willing to do an interview over the phone with me. We soon arranged a time and date which would work best for both of us.  Jade Screen >>More<<

-- Forbidden Kingdom Trailer --

A footage from Forbidden Kingdom that highlighting the action scenes has been posted at YouTube.

-- The Forbidden Kingdom --

Production of US$70m Forbidden Kingdom, which commenced in May in Dunhuang, and subsequently moved location to Mt Wuyi, Anji, etc and eventually to Hengdian, has just wrappd up. Most of the cast members, including Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Liu Yi Fei have completed their scenes by Aug 26. The last month of the shoot was spent filming the action scenes of the grand finale, which takes place predominating on the Qin Palace set, which was given an overhaul costing US$10m, in Hengdian. The Qin Palace set was used as the headquarters of Jade Warlord. Production for the finale was split into two camera units, one led by Yuen Wo Ping, another by Peter Pau. According to some production crew, there are three major duels in the finale: Jet Li and Jackie Chan vs Li Bing Bing; Jet Li vs Ngai Sing; and Jackie Chan vs Li Bing Bing. Yuen Wo Ping personally directed the martial arts scenes in the finale. And to ensure quality, Yuen Wo Ping often made last minute changes, such that even the actors sometimes had to wait for the whole day. Forbidden Kingdom is expected to open in China on May Day 2008.  The Beijing News 

-- Operation Condor 3: Chinese Zodiac --
"Next year, April the 1st, I start a new movie," Chan revealed. "I direct, I write my own script. It's called Operation Condor 3: Chinese Zodiac. Big action." The Armor of God/Operation Condor series features Chan as an Indiana Jones-style adventurer pursuing mythical artifacts, with Chan's trademark style of action scenes. Perhaps the biggest find in part three will be Chan's return to directing. "I haven't been directing for more than 10 years, even though I'm helping all my directors on the set. But now this time I'm totally in control. I write my own script. You'll see what happens. This may be the most personal Jackie Chan movie in a decade. "Directing you can do a lot of things. I can put all my messages inside, I can put all my ideas inside. It's the feeling I create something."

Meanwhile, Chan is currently filming The Forbidden Kingdom, a Western take on the classic Chinese "Journey to the West" tale, with Jet Li and Collin Chou. He can also be seen soon in Brett Ratner's Rush Hour 3, out this August 10.  Rotten Tomatoes

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Jackie Chan will be using his signature move Drunken Fist for his character Lu Yan. Yuen Wo Ping hopes to present Drunken Fist as something gentle on the inside, forceful on the outside. Silent Monk (Jet Li), who was transformed from a strand of hair on Monkey God that escaped when the latter was imprisoned, uses Monkey Fist; Yuen Wo Ping designs for Jet Li the ancient form that dazzles the opponent with fast and ever-changing moves before delivering the fatal blow. White Hair Demoness (Li Bing Bing) uses Phoenix Dancing in Ninth Heaven, and specialises in whip and twin swords. Golden Swallow, (Liu Yi Fei), whose forte is lightness kungfu, employs Pipa Skill; when strumming the pipa, secret weapons will shoot forth.

Liu Yifei's mother has agreed to play Queen Mother who appears briefly in the movie. Unfortunately, Li Xue, Li Bing Bing's sister agent, turned down the cameo role of moon fairy Chang-er, who dances at the Peaches Meet. White Hair Demoness was originally a male character Whitebrows. But on Peter Pau's suggestion, they changed it to a female character whose hair turned white overnight when she was betrayed by her lover. Forbidden Kingdom will wrap up in August and be released in around April 2008.  Nanfang Daily, Sina

-- Jet Li on Monkey King in Forbidden Kingdom --

Ideally, the identity of the person portraying the Monkey King should be kept secret. However, with advances in technology and information distribution, today's entertainment industry doesn't really have any secrets. By now everyone knows that I will be playing the Monkey King character in "Forbidden Kingdom".

In fact, when I first received the scrīpt three years ago the producer approached me to play the role of the Monkey King, but at that time there were problems with the scrīpt. At that time they portrayed the Monk as a great fighter. I felt this was a bit weird because, according to the original story, "Journey to the West", the Monk was the only role that was based on "reality". This character was based on the life of Buddhist Master Xuan-Zhang from the Tang Dyanasty. If his character was a great fighter the film wouldn't be accepted by the public. So after discussions with the producer we decided that the monk should not be a fighter. Otherwise the film would have a difficult time being accepted in Asia.  Jet Li Blog >>More<<

-- Talking With Jet Li --

Q: Jackie mentioned you in his diary and talked about how long it took for the two of you to be able to work together. How do you feel about finally getting a chance to work with Jackie?

A: It has been thirty years since I first saw Jackie in Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow. It was about 1978 or 1979. When I saw him, I thought Jackie was fabulous and very cool. I first met him in 1985 and we became friends. In 1994, he told me a story idea that he had for a movie. That was the first time we talked about making a movie together, but in the end it didn’t work out. In 2000 I had dinner with Jackie in America and we talked again about making a movie together. We were so close to succeeding at that time because the production company had already paid a million dollars to the screenwriter to write a script. However, that also never happened...  JackieChan.com >>More<<

-- Talking With Collin Chou --

Collin Chou has been in the movie business since the age of 12 and has acted in such blockbuster films as Fearless, The Matrix Revolutions, and The Matrix Reloaded, among many others. Collin plays the character of the Jade War Lord in Jackie's latest movie, The Forbidden Kingdom. We met with Collin at his hotel at Hengdian Studios recently and had a lovely talk with this charming, gracious, and humble man who is dedicated to improving himself both professionally and personally.  JackieChan.com >>More<<

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Under the persuasion of the director Rob Minkoff, the initially reluctant Ngai Sing is joining Forbidden Kingdom. When the director talked to Ngai Sing in Hong Kong, he took in Ngai Sing's suggestions and gave the character Ngai Sing would be playing more depth and human touch; and looking up to Yuen Wo Ping as his benefactor, and wishing to work with both Jet Li and Jackie Chan, Ngai Sing eventually relented. Due to contractual reasons, details of his role is not revealed, but it seems to be a villain who is a master of kung fu.  United News Daily