Zhang Ziyi, the Asian beauty, is set for a leading role in a big-budget Chinese-language romantic comedy film ‘Sophie’s Revenge’ which is a co-production between China and South Korea and being co-developed by Zhang, who will take charge as a producer as well, and CJ Entertainment of South Korea.
The Korean’s CJ is meaning to part finance the picture and then to pick up distribution rights in Europe and Asia. The budget of the film is approximately set at the range between $2 million to $3 million, however, the final decision will be re-set after the last casting.
The location is set in China for the entire movie with a Chinese director who will be soon announced, including other cast. CJ Entertainment revealed in Pusan that the project of this Chinese-language is currently in the script-writing process with its final cast, budget official production partners will be officially announced in November in Beijing, China.
Due to the tight schedule of Zhang Ziyi, CJ wants the movie start to be shot in November and released in mid-2009 if possible.
The 29-year-old actress, who recently starred in Chinese-language drama ‘Mei Lanfang’, American horror-thriller ‘The Horsemen’ and two Korean films 2001 Musa The Warrior and 2003 My Wife Is a Gangster 2, is Hugh Grant’s co-star in Susanne Beir’s forthcoming romance film Lost For Words.
The Rush Hour 2 star is understood to have been looking for a romantic comedy for Asian auditions.
Head of international film financing and distribution at CJ, Mike Suh, mentioned about Zhang Ziyi, “Romantic comedy with big stars like Zhang Ziyi, is not an established genre in China and we look forward to a successful collaboration with Zhang”.
“More detailed information will be announced in Beijing in the near future”, added he.
CJ Entertainment introduced the project in Pusan in its annual party and the movie will be a curtain raiser for its line-up in 2009.