HONG KONG -- Jackie Chan will produce and star in "The Shinjuku Incident," a Japan-set immigrant drama to be helmed by Derek Yee Tung-sing.

Pic will be produced by Chan's JCE group and repped in international markets by Emperor Motion Pictures. Set up as an official co-production with a mainland Chinese partner, it will qualify for a China release. Lensing, to start before the end of the year, will include Tokyo and likely also take in Chinese locations.

According to Solon So, Chan's partner in JCE, the budget will be "bigger than 'The Myth'," which JCE also produced at a cost of $15 million. " 'Shinjuku Incident' will be Jackie's next film after 'The Forbidden Kingdom'," So told Daily Variety.

The presence of Yee, a celebrated drama director with credits including "One Nite in Mongkok" and recent "Protege," underline progress in Chan's oft-stated desire to take on character acting roles. But plot details are sketchy. So said only that the pic will be set in the 1990s and feature lives of Chinese immigrants in Tokyo.

Pic will feature several Japanese characters, but other than Chan and Yee there are no talent commitments.

"Kingdom" is a $70 million adaptation of "The Monkey King" being directed by Rob Minkoff and co-starring Jet Li. Pic, now lensing at the Hengdian Studios in China, is financed by Relativity Media and co-produced by China's Huayi brothers. Lionsgate and the Weinstein Co. have assorted rights.

© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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