Bodyguards and Assassins starring Donnie Yen

[doug maverick]

from sina dailen news. via wu-jing.org

Peter Chan Enshrouds March in Dark October

-- Dark October --
Dark October, produced by Peter Chan, is slated for production in March. Director Teddy Chan was planning the film back in 2004 when the investor committed suicide resulting in the production being stalled. With Peter Chan stepping in, financing for the 1.5m yuan film has been secured. The cast is likely to include Chow Yun Fatt and Donnie Yen, and perhaps Lau Ching Wan, Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Aaron Kwok, Ji Jin Hee, Kwon Sang Woo.

In Dark October, Sun Yat Sen (Chow Yun Fatt) heads to Hong Kong to raise funds for uprising activities. Learning of assassination attempt by the Manchu government, the businessman (Leon Lai) in Hong Kong who is responsible for receiving Sun Yat Sen hires elite bodyguards (Donnie Yen et al.) to protect him, eventually escorting him back to Guangzhou safely. Sina, Dalian News

chow yun fat and donnie in a film together could be epic.

[jethro]

Sounds good. I hope to see those 2 together. It will be funny to see Donnie protecting Dr. Sun Yat Sen rather than trying to kill him like he did in OUATIC 2.

[doug maverick]

so there has been no news of this film but looks like sina is reporting that chow yun fat is out, due to his confucius film. the cast and further info about the film is listed below.

Dark October Mugged by Bodyguards and Assassins

-- Bodyguards and Assassins --
At today's press conference for Bodyguards and Assassins (formerly Dark October), a movie on a group of people protecting Sun Yat Sen against assassination when he was in Hong Kong to raise funds on October 15, 1905, the cast was formally announced.

At this stage, it's not known who'd be playing Dr Sun Yat Sen, after Chow Yun Fatt, who's doing the film on Confucius that begins filming around the same time, declined the offer. Director Teddy Chan explains that Sun Yat Sen is not the key figure in Bodyguards and Assassins, rather the film shows the history of Hong Kong through a group of people protecting Sun Yat Sen.

The partial cast announced includes "Gambler" Donnie Yen, "Beggar" Leon Lai, "Rickshaw Puller" Nicholas Tse, "Revolutionary" Tony Leung Kar Fai, "Assassin" Hu Jun, "General in Exile" Simon Yam, "Police Commissioner" Eric Tsang, "Mistress" Fan Bing Bing, "Scion" Wang Bai Jue, Wang Xue Qi and Zhou Yun.

Among the various characters, Donnie Yen's role is particularly of great import, full of suspense and development. Unlike the others, he isn't a patriotic or righteous person initially, even in the final instance, he's still uncertain of his own stand. Fan Bing Bing plays Donne Yen's wife, but remarries tycoon Wang Xue Qi to be his mistress due to a twist of events.



While Nicholas Tse had actually auditioned for this film several years ago before the production was held up, it's until only recently that his role as the rickshaw puller, one that would lay down his life for Dr Sun, was confirmed.

Hu Jun, as the main villain, one sent by the Manchu government to assassinate Dr Sun, would be shaving his head bald. Hu Jun would also be joining Jingle Ma's ongoing production Hua Mulan starring Vicki Zhao, playing a Hun general.



The 150m yuan film produced by Peter Chan, action directed by Stephen Tung Wai, begins production in early April 2009 and would be released in December 2009. Sina

also the film is called bodyguards and assassins now.

[Zenshiite]

I think I prefer Black October as the title.

[doug maverick]

black october is a bit more ominous, then bodyguards and assasins which make it sound like a generic kung fu flick.

[Zenshiite]

Exactly, it sounds like a bad English title for an old Shaw Brothers flick.

[doug maverick]

i think thats what their counting on. they want someone like dragon dynasty or magnolia to snatch up the english language rights before they start shooting. and bodygaurds and assassins is a better sell then dark October.

[Lucas]

wait....confucius film?

[SimonM]

Yes, Chow Yunfat is booked to play Kongzi.

[Lucas]

sweet. should be some straight sword play in it then

[doug maverick]

so appereantly they are pulling out al the stops for this film spending 43million yuan on rebuilding shanghai attached is a pic of the scale map a promotion one sheet(poster) and a promo vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbBKmiocDcM

[GeneChing]

...it's in the Dragonball thread.

[GeneChing]

Old Nick had it really hard.
Persis Khambatta would kick his ass in a baldness hardship contest.

Nicholas Tse Went all out for New Role
2009-05-04 12:57:03 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Tian Tian

Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse has gone all out for his new role in Director Teddy Chan's 'Bodyguards and Assassins' (formerly 'Dark October').

The actor had his head shaved bald, for the first time, to play a 'rickshaw puller' role in the upcoming star-studded film.

However, Tse has to undertake more than that. The actor who usually appears on screen with a squeaky-clean, handsome image will make do with a scared face in the film. Special makeup for his character allegedly takes hours to do.
Moreover, the actor also needs to devote time to sun bathing in order to get tanned and look more like a weather-beaten rickshaw puller.

The film 'Bodyguards and Assassins' tells the story of a group of people protecting Sun Yat-Sen against assassination when he was in Hong Kong raising funds on October 15, 1905.

Director Teddy Chan once explained that Sun Yat-Sen is not the key figure in Bodyguards and Assassins, rather the film shows the history of Hong Kong through a group of people protecting Sun Yat-Sen.

The power cast also includes Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, mainland popular actress Fan Bing Bing, veteran actor Wang Xueqi and Hu Jun. Pop singer Li Yuchun would make her screen debut in the film.

The 150 million yuan film produced by Peter Chan begins production in early April 2009 and will be released in December 2009.

[doug maverick]

nic tse is pretty tanned already they trying to make him black??? anyway thats not going all out, freaking Bobby Dinero(he told me to call him bobby on the set of righteous kill so im gonna stick to it, you never know who might be read, LOL) once flew back from making a film in italy to be a taxi cab driver to prepare for his role in taxi driver, now thats going all out.

[Tensei85]

Awesome! It sounds like this is going to be a great year for Chinese action flicks, can't wait!