Thursday, March 19, 2009

HK action star to play Confucius in new film: Chinese media

HK action star to play Confucius in new film: Chinese media
Mar 19, 2009
AFP

BEIJING, March 19, 2009 (AFP) - Hong Kong action movie star Chow Yun-fat will play ancient philosopher Confucius in a new film backed by the Chinese state, media reports here said.

Chow, 53, made his name in violent Hong Kong action films in the 1980s and 1990s but is perhaps best known to many movie-goers for his role as a martial arts master in 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Filming was to begin next month under director Hu Mei, the Beijing Times said.

The reports did not say when the biopic would be released but reports late last year had said the China Film Group was hoping to screen the movie on the October 1 National Day holiday.

The ancient teachings of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), centring on peace and social harmony have enjoyed an officially-backed renaissance here in recent years, after being suppressed in Maoist China.

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