30 years ago, Johnny To (杜琪峰)’s first film “The Life-taking Golds” (碧水寒山夺命金) was shot on the Mainland. This would be the last he would shoot on the mainland for three decades. Over the past ten years, filmmakers from Hong Kong have switched their focus to the mainland when considering filming locations. Nonetheless, To has still stuck with Hong Kong, aiming to shoot ‘pure Hong Kong films.’
Things are going to change. Earlier this month, it was announced that romance film “Romancing in Thin Air,” directed by Johnny To and starring Louis Koo and Sammi Cheng, would be released during the 2012 Valentine’s Day holiday slot.
Hot on the heels of this announcement, it was revealed that Johnny To and Wai Ka-Fai are teaming up again for a new project based on the mainland, titled “Drug War” (毒战).
Rumors about the cast members have already been spreading over the internet, indicating a host of celebrity heavyweights will be among the cast. The production company behind the film, Hairun Movies & TV Group, clarified that the final cast list has not yet been released.
With 100 million yuan in investment, “Drug War” will be directed by Johnny To and written by Wai Ka-Fai (韋家輝). The script is still in the polishing stages. It aims to make blockbuster of the gangster genre based on the mainland.
Liu Shuai
Chinese Films