'Monkey King' set to become 3D blockbuster
By Min Lee |
November 2, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Monkey King character from Chinese folklore will be revived in a US$60 million 3D blockbuster starring Donnie Yen and Chow Yun-fat, as Chinese filmmakers try to match the massive success of "Avatar" by launching their own productions in the new format.
The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, hails from the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," which describes a Buddhist monk's pilgrimage to India to collect religious texts. He is protected by three disciples, including a fighting monkey with magical powers.
The popular story is frequently adapted in stage productions, movies and TV series.
It received the Hollywood treatment in 2008 when Lionsgate released "The Forbidden Kingdom," which co-starred Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who played the Monkey King.
Now Chinese filmmakers are answering with a big-budget adaptation of their own.
Hong Kong director Soi Cheang started shooting "Monkey King" in Beijing on October 8 with Yen in the title role and Chow playing a mythical emperor, Hong Kong-based Filmko Entertainment, one of the investors of the 3D film, said in a statement yesterday.
Other stars include actor-singer Aaron Kwok and actresses Kelly Chen, Cecilia Cheung and Gigi Leung.
"Monkey King" follows the character's life story before his India trip, when he attacked the Heavenly Kingdom with the Buffalo Demon King, upset that he was snubbed by its rulers.
Chinese studios are keen to cash in on the country's fast-growing 3D movie market, which delivered a whopping US$206 million in box office revenues to the makers of the Hollywood sci-fi epic "Avatar" earlier this year.
Famed Hong Kong director Tsui Hark also recently started shooting a 3D production, announcing he will remake his 1992 kung fu movie "Dragon Inn" in the format.
"Monkey King" is expected to be released in 2012.
The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, hails from the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," which describes a Buddhist monk's pilgrimage to India to collect religious texts. He is protected by three disciples, including a fighting monkey with magical powers.
The popular story is frequently adapted in stage productions, movies and TV series.
It received the Hollywood treatment in 2008 when Lionsgate released "The Forbidden Kingdom," which co-starred Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who played the Monkey King.
Now Chinese filmmakers are answering with a big-budget adaptation of their own.
Hong Kong director Soi Cheang started shooting "Monkey King" in Beijing on October 8 with Yen in the title role and Chow playing a mythical emperor, Hong Kong-based Filmko Entertainment, one of the investors of the 3D film, said in a statement yesterday.
Other stars include actor-singer Aaron Kwok and actresses Kelly Chen, Cecilia Cheung and Gigi Leung.
"Monkey King" follows the character's life story before his India trip, when he attacked the Heavenly Kingdom with the Buffalo Demon King, upset that he was snubbed by its rulers.
Chinese studios are keen to cash in on the country's fast-growing 3D movie market, which delivered a whopping US$206 million in box office revenues to the makers of the Hollywood sci-fi epic "Avatar" earlier this year.
Famed Hong Kong director Tsui Hark also recently started shooting a 3D production, announcing he will remake his 1992 kung fu movie "Dragon Inn" in the format.
"Monkey King" is expected to be released in 2012.
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