Five days after filming began on Chen Kaige's Mei
Lanfang biopic, a supplementary press conference was held on
Thursday to welcome its most anticipated cast members: Leon Lai and
Zhang Ziyi.
Both stars were absent from a commencement ceremony held on July
14 in Beijing.
Leon Lai (L) and Zhang Ziyi
(R) with director Chen Kaige, at a press conference in Beijing,
promoting Mei Lanfang, on Thursday, July 19,
2007.
Leon Lai, who is also a Cantopop singer, will play the late
Peking opera master Mei Lanfang. He is reportedly busy polishing
his opera skills, sparing time from another film in production
which is directed by Hong Kong's Ching Siu-tung.
Zhang Ziyi will play Mei Lanfang's fellow singer, Meng Xiaodong.
She was recently spotted in the Sun Valley Resort in the United
States with her billionaire boyfriend Vivi Nevo.
There is still no exact date revealed for the two actors'
joining the cast.
Other leading cast members, including Chen Hong, Gillian Chung
and Japanese actor Masanobu Ando, were all at the press conference
and explained their role in the film.
Mei Baojiu, Mei Lanfang's youngest son and a prominent Peking
opera singer himself, also showed up expressing his thanks and
confidence in the production team.
The film is due out next year.
Leon Lai (L) and Zhang Ziyi
(R) with director Chen Kaige, at a press conference in Beijing, on
Thursday, July 19, 2007.
Cast member, Gillian Chung,
at a press conference in Beijing, promoting Mei Lanfang,
on Thursday, July 19, 2007.
Cast member, Masanobu Ando,
at a press conference in Beijing, promoting Mei Lanfang,
on Thursday, July 19, 2007.
Mei Baojiu, Mei Lanfang's
youngest son, at a press conference in Beijing, promoting Mei
Lanfang, on Thursday, July 19, 2007.
Peking opera actors perform
before a press conference for Chinese director Chen Kaige's Mei
Lanfang in Beijing, on Thursday, July 19,
2007.?
(CRI.cn July 20, 2007)
