Hong Kong director Wilson Yip Wai-shunhas started shooting $10m kung-fu action movie, Dragon Tiger Gate, at China's Hengdian World Studios with acombination of talents from China and Hong Kong.
Donnie Yen, whose credits include Seven Swords and Hero,heads the cast along with Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue and Chinese actress Dong Jie.Yen is also the action director of the film while leading production designer WilliamChang Suk-ping (2046, In The Mood For Love) will oversee costumeand make-up for the movie.
The film, which is set for release in the summer of 2006,marks the first collaboration between Hong Kong's Mandarin Films and Beijing Polybona Film Publishing, asuccessful private distribution company that is making a move into productionfinance. Mandarin chief Raymond Wong, Polybona's Yu Dong and Seven Swordsproducer Nansun Shi have producer credits.
Dragon Tiger Gate is based on the popular classicHong Kongmanga The Gate Of Dragon And Tiger which was created and designed byTong Wong Yuk-long in the 1970s. It features three young heroes from a martialarts academy who help the powerless to fight against triads.
Yip's latest film, SPL, a brooding action thrillerthat also stars Yen, recently premiered at the Toronto International FilmFestival to strong reviews and distributor interest. Produced by Hong Kong's Abba Movies, the film ishandled internationally by Arclight Films.
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