BEIJING -- Chinese director Chen Kaige's $15 million biopic of late Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang will be released Dec. 12 and rights are already selling well in Asian markets, according to China Film Group.
The movie marks Chen's return to Chinese opera after his 1993 film "Farewell My Concubine," which dealt with the homosexual relationship between two Peking Opera stars and won a Palme d'Or at Cannes and earned two Oscar nominations.
"Mei Lanfang" stars Hong Kong actor-singer Leon Lai and Chinese thesp Zhang Ziyi ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").
Fan Jianghua, manager of China Film Group's publicity department, said pic was in post-production.
Born in 1894, Mei was known for his performance of female characters in Chinese opera and was a pioneer in promoting Peking Opera abroad, touring Japan, the U.S. and the Soviet Union. He died in 1961.
Han Sanping, head of China Film Group, told local media: " 'Mei Lanfang' is the first film which has sold its release rights in South Korea and Japan for millions of dollars before being finished. I believe this film will have great international influence."
Chen is editing the film down from its current length of three hours. He said the pic combined artistic and commercial demands -- Chen needs a hit after his chop-socky epic "The Promise" failed to make an impact two years ago.
The filmmakers said no decision had been made on whether to delete scenes featuring Hong Kong star Gillian Chung who was involved in a nude photo scandal this year. Chung plays Mei's young wife.
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