Zhang Yimou invites Jay Chou in Golden Armor
(CRI)
Updated: 2006-02-14 10:05

Taiwan pop singer and actor Jay Chou is to join Chinese big shots Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li in director Zhang Yimou's new martial arts project The City of Golden Armor.

Director Zhang Yimou arrived in Hong Kong secretly on Saturday night with the film's producer, Zhang Weiping, to discuss adding Jay Chou to the cast. The director has given high praise to Jay's talent.

Producer Zhang Weiping says his discussion with Jay was satisfying and Jay's pop music, shy character and appearance in ancient costume fit the film role well. He says Jay will play a silent, cool character.

Zhang Yimou said that a new actress will be recruited directly from acting school, but has refused to reveal more about the newcomer as some contractual problems have yet to be worked out.

It has also been confirmed Chinese film star Liu Ye will play a prince in the epic feature.

The US$44.6 million dollar film will begin shooting in February and is scheduled to wrap up at the end of this year.

The new movie, set in the Tang dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 907 AD, is inspired by the modern Chinese play Thunderstorm, a classic from famous playwright Cao Yu. The theme involves a power struggle between the emperor, the empress and a general.

There are several large war scenes that will be shot using real people rather than computer graphics, employing tens of thousands of extras.