Stanley Kwan announces his new film 'His Kingdom'
Though just announced, “His Kingdom” was bigger news at the Harbin Film Festival than “Energy behind the Heart,” Stanley Kwan’s currently movie being promoted.Since starring in Jia Zhangke’s “I Wish I Knew,” Han Han has clearly gotten the itch for film and this time around he’s working with Hong Kong-based director Stanley Kwan on the adaptation of Han Han’s popular novel “His Kingdom.”
"Dong Fang Daily," reports that Kwan confirmed the pairing at the Harbin Film Festival.
Kwan told the press that the film's pre-production was on tight schedule as they plan to raise funds through HAF (Hong Kong Asian Film Financing Forum) at the end of this March.
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“Eighty percent of the investment is guaranteed. We are looking for a platform that can help us approach foreign distributors and make the movie better,” said Kwan.
Han Han’s “His Kingdom” was published on Qi Dian, a Chinese literature website at the end of 2008, quickly gaining an online fan base, and was printed in early 2009.
There are many classic words in the novel, which will be welcomed by today's young people, especially when a movie version comes out.— Lu Jinbo, publisher or "His Kingdom"
The story in "His Kingdom" follows a young man from a small town in China who dreams of success and the perfect girl. Although he works hard to realize these dreams, he is ultimately defeated by the reality around him.
Many believe that the book might be Han Han's own biography although his publisher, Lu Jinbo, denied the claims.
Lu continued saying that Han Han would not be cast as the story's lead character, “Zuo Xiaolong,” but it was Han Han's idea to sell the adaptation rights to Kwan.
"There are many classic words in the novel, which will be welcomed by today's young people, especially when a movie version comes out," said Lu to the press, of Han Han's decision to part with the rights.
Although the part of Zuo Xiaolong is still up for grabs, Kwan has expressed interest in Zhou Dongyu, who had starred in Zhang Yimou’s “The Love of the Hawthorn Tree,” for the part of the Zuo's innocent love interest, “Ni Ba.”
Kwan is also reportedly in discussions with actress Fan Bingbing to discuss the role of “a sexy and cool girl three years older than Zuo Xiaolong,” said the Dong Fang Daily report.
It is the first time that Han Han is selling movie adaptation rights to his work, but “His Kingdom” is not the only piece that might make it to the big screen.
Han Han’s Lu told Liaoshen News, the rights to “Riot in Chang'an City” and “Glory Days” were under negotiations and if the outcome is successful, they’ll be released late in 2012.
