UK actors Ian Hart and Natascha McElhone have joined the cast of Chen Kaige's first English-language project Killing Me Softly, currently gearing up to shoot from the end of October for eleven weeks in the UK. Festen's Ulrich Thomsen has also been confirmed for the film, which stars Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes.

An erotic thriller, Killing Me Softly tells the story of an American woman living in London (Graham) who leaves her safe, loving boyfriend for a mysterious stranger she catches eyes with in the street (Fiennes). The film is scripted by Kara Lindstrom, and is based on the novel of the same name by Nicci French (a pseudonym for British husband-and-wife-writing team Nicci Gerard and Sean French).

The film also teams Kaige with DoP Mick Coulter, a veteran of several British films including Notting Hill, Sense And Sensibility and Four Weddings And A Funeral.

Killing Me Softly marks the first Western project for legendary Chinese film-maker Chen Kaige. Part of the acclaimed wave of "Fifth Generation" Chinese directors, Kaige's credits include The Emperor And The Assassin, Temptress Moon and Farewell My Concubine.

MGM has US rights to Killing Me Softly, while Myriad Pictures is selling the film worldwide. Montecito Picture Co produces.