“Glee” star Harry Shum Jr. has, according to a story at The Hollywood Reporter, just joined the cast of the upcoming Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel. He will play the role of Tie-Fang opposite the previously announced Donnie Yen as Silent Wolf and Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu-lien. Legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping — director of Donnie Yen’s Iron Monkey — is directing.
The screenplay for the new film is based on “Iron Knight, Silver Vase” by Wang Du Lu, book five in the “Crane-Iron Pentalogy” series, on which the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was based. The screenplay is written by John Fusco (Forbidden Kingdom, Hidalgo) and will be produced by Harvey Weinstein and David Thwaites, co-produced by Johnny Levin with Executive Producer Anthony Wong. Yucaipa Films is co-financing the project.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, distributed by Sony Pictures, became a surprise international success, grossing $213.5 million. It grossed $128 million in the US, becoming the highest-grossing foreign language film in American history and has won over 40 awards including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film was also nominated for six other Academy Awards including Best Picture.
The sequel is now in production with plans to shoot in both China and New Zealand.
(Photo Credit: Brian To / WENN.com)