Reeves backs kung fu film

A KUNG fu comedy movie partially financed by Hollywood star Keanu Reeves will start shooting in China this month.

"Kung Fu Hero," in which Reeves has a role, would demonstrate clashes between Chinese and Western cultures, which lead to comedic elements, said its production manager, Li Xiaowan, Shanghai Morning Post reported yesterday.

She said a large part of the film would be shot in Shanghai. It would also be filmed in southwest China's Yunnan Province, southern China's Hainan Province and Hong Kong.

It will star Tiger Chen, a friend and kung fu mentor of Reeves in the "Matrix" movies. Chen also served as a martial arts director in "Kill Bill" and "Charlie's Angels."

Two other producers of the movie are Han Sanping, president of the China Film Group, and young investor He Gang.

The idea for the movie, previously known as "Taichi Tiger," began to brew two years ago when Reeves and Chen were enjoying a hot spring on a remote Chinese mountain.

The movie will be directed by Yuen Cheung-Yan, brother of famous Chinese martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo Ping, and Ning Ying, a member of China's "Sixth Generation" of filmmakers renowned for her "Beijing Trilogy" and "Perpetual Motion."

Yuen was also a martial arts director in "Daredevil" and "Charlie's Angels." Yuen will be in charge of the martial arts part of the movie while Ning will focus on the plot.