If they decide at the last minute to launch the sequel as a musical, Andy would be a better singer and would probably settle for half the easy mills. 
the deal is done…and like i said donnie is still on board..signed sealed and soon to be delivered.
Shoot starts in July
I’ll swap the title to Green Destiny later, as it gets closer.
20 April 2014 Last updated at 12:09 ET
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon prequel to be filmed
Michelle Yeoh The original is the most successful Chinese-language film of all time
Filming on a prequel to Oscar-winning martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will start in July
Titled The Green Destiny, the movie will see Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as female warrior Yu Shu Lien.
Pre-production is believed to have begun. Filming is due to start in Auckland, New Zealand, with two further weeks of shooting in China.
Yuen Woo-ping, who co-ordinated the action scenes in the original, will step behind the camera for the prequel.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remains the most successful Chinese-language film of all time, making $213.5m (£127m) on its release in 2000.
It won the best foreign-language Oscar the following year, with three more awards in the technical categories.
Ang Lee accepts his Oscar in 2001 Ang Lee won the first of three Oscars for the original
Part of the reason for the film’s success was that it operated on many different levels. It was a love story, a martial arts fantasy with a feminist twist and an historical epic set against a backdrop of spectacular locations in China.
Director Ang Lee also employed sophisticated technology that enabled the characters to perform gravity-defying stunts, drawing in fans of the previous year’s box office hit, The Matrix.
But plans for a prequel were delayed by a row over the film rights to Wang Du Lu’s novels, on which the film was based.
Columbia Pictures claimed it had struck a deal with the late writer’s son in 2005. He denied this, and said he had signed an agreement with The Weinstein Company, another US studio.
With the case resolved, The Weinstein Company is pushing ahead with the prequel, choosing New Zealand as a location thanks to a generous production incentive that offers filmmakers a 20% rebate on money spent in the country.
The Green Destiny draws on the fifth book in Wang’s series, Silver Vase, Iron Night.
“This introduces a new generation of star-crossed lovers, and a new series of antagonists in a battle of good and evil,” screenwriter John Fusco told movie website Deadline last year.
Although Fusco is known for US blockbusters such as Young Guns I and II, he also penned The Forbidden Kingdom for Jet Li and Jackie Chan in 2008.
The film, which drew on the writer’s own martial arts training, broke opening day box office records in China.
Charlie Nguyen as action director
Interesting pick. Here’s our thread on The-Rebel
Charlie Nguyen Joins CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON 2 As Action Director
Trung Rwo, Writer
Right after the wrap of his new comedy Let Hoi Decide, Vietnamese media are reporting that The Rebel director Charlie Nguyen flew to New Zealand to work as the action director for the sequel of Oscar-winning martial art film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Former action director Yuen Woo-ping - originally doing double duty as both director and action choreographer - was initially reported to continue his work as choreographer with Nguyen just joining as additional pre-production support. But now it appears that Yuen has stepped away from the fight choreography role with Nguyen taking over on that front completely.
Michelle Yeoh will return to her roles, together with Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse in the leads. There’s no official news about other cast, so it appears Zhang Ziyi, Chow Yun-Fat and Chang Chen may not come back.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II: The Green Destiny is scheduled to release in 2015.
not villain
Too bad. Donnie can play good villains.
Donnie Yen is not the villain in “The Green Destiny”
By Heidi Hsia | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo Newsroom – Mon, Aug 4, 2014 5:01 PM SGT
4 Aug – The producers of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II – The Green Destiny” recently clarified rumours saying that Donnie Yen will be playing a villain in the movie.
As reported on Tencent, the Hong Kong media previously reported that Donnie, who recently went to New Zealand to begin filming for the movie, will play an antagonist instead of the lead in the movie.
However, both the production crew and Donnie himself dismissed the reports as false, saying that the actor will indeed play a hero in the movie and will maintain his positive image.
As one of the biggest martial arts stars of his era, the production said that Donnie was offered to play the lead role by Weinstein Company’s very own Harvey Weinstein and that the company had never considered anybody else.
Harry Shum Jr.
I’ve been anticipating Shum to go into martial arts films. He’s very physically adept…and Asian. Just seems natural. He’s been dabbling in some action/martial arts web flicks.
‘Glee’ Star Joins Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh In “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2’
By Staff Writer | Aug 10, 2014 11:34 AM EDT
Glee Harry Shum Jr
(Photo : Facebook)
The sequel to Oscars Best Foreign Film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” has new cast to join “Ip Man” star Donnie Yen and “True Legends” actress Michelle Yeoh. A cast from “Glee” to also star in the sequel is no other than Harry Shum Jr., who is known as Mike Chang in the musical TV series.
Shum Jr. will play as Tie-Fang, one of the four martial arts warriors who will protect the Green Destiny sword from the villains. The story of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny” revolves around Silent Wolf (Yen), Yu Shu-Lien (Yeoh), Tie-Fang, and Snow Vase. So, who is Snow Vase? Currently, the production has not yet announced or revealed who will play the role and even if for the character of villain Hades Dai.
The story is set 20 years after on where the viewers left in the first movie starring Chow Yan-Fat and Zhang Ziyi with Yeoh as well. Last week, the production has already started the shooting, getting ready for the tentative release date in 2015.
Going back to Shum Jr., the actor showed his dance moves in “Step Up 2: The Streets” in 2008 and “Step Up 3D” in 2010 as Cable. It means it is not the first time that the actor starred in highly physical movie; however, it is martial arts this time not dancing.
Thinking of the awards and recognitions that the first sequel received in 2000, the viewers, perhaps, already wondering if the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2” will surpass the success and achievement of the 4-time Academy Award winner “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.
The film will be helmed by Woo-ping Yeun, who choreographed the first sequel of the movie. John Fusco, who wrote screenplays for Hidalgo and Young Guns, penned the martial arts movie sequel.
While Sham Jr. is busy with the movie, Glee viewers wonder if he will be back to appear in the sixth and final season of the musical TV series. Perhaps, they are thinking, too, if he will show his iconic pop-n-lock moves in the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2”.
theater and netflix launch at the same time.
this is being called a game changer… as reported by deadline.com
http://deadline.com/2014/09/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-2-netflix-1st-feature-film-hollywood-nightmare-843291/
Netflix Sets ‘Crouching Tiger 2 As 1st Feature; Hollywood’s Nightmare?
mfleming
by Mike Fleming Jr
September 29, 2014 6:01pm
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Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
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HARVEY WEINSTEIN
HIDDEN DRAGON: THE GREEN LEGEND
BREAKING: While Hollywood studios and exhibitors endlessly spar over shortening the window between theatrical and home viewing on feature films, you just knew that someone was going to take a bona fide movie, bypass theaters and go right to home viewing. Not surprisingly, it’s Netflix, already a disruptive force with series including House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black. The pay service has just contracted with The Weinstein Company’s Harvey Weinstein to release its first major feature film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend. Sort of a sequel to the Ang Lee-directed 2000 martial arts epic that won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, the film will premiere exclusively on Netflix, and it will simultaneously have a berth in IMAX theaters. The release is August 28, 2015.
RelatedNetflix Topic Of Talk At HRTS Lunch
crouchYuen Wo-Ping is directing a script by John Fusco, and Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen star. Lee is not involved in this, and the connective tissue is the source material based on the Crane-Iron Pentalogy by Wang Du Lu. Crouching Tiger was the fourth book in the series, and this film is based on the fifth installment, Silver Vase, Iron Knight. Both are from Wu Sia, the centuries-old genre of Chinese fiction that this series is part of. There is plenty of high-wire sword fighting along with the themes of lost love, young love and redemption. Yeoh reprises her role as Yu Shu-Lien, and Donnie Yen plays Silent Wolf. The film is shooting in New Zealand. Yuen is a legendary filmmaker and fight choreographer, and the production team is composed of all seasoned feature players. Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey are producing with Weinstein and The Imitation Game helmer Morten Tyldum is exec producing with Ralph Winter, Anthony Wong and Bey Logan.
fuscoThis isn’t the only feature film that Netflix is working on, but it likely will be the first one released. Fusco, Harvey Weinstein and Netflix also are in business on the mammoth event series Marco Polo, and the TWC catalog of films, including those directed by Quentin Tarantino, are available on demand to Netflix subscribers. TWC already has branched into other distribution models with its multi-platform releasing arm RADiUS, but this more closely mirrors the Golden Age of cable television that is partly fueled by the ability for viewers to watch what they want, when they want it. That has not been possible with feature films until now. TWC and Sony (SPC released the 4-Oscar-winning original) had battled several years ago over the rights to the Crouching Tiger books left behind by the author, who died in 1977. Reports quoted his son, Hong Wang, saying his family made very little money from the original film, and that is why they made another deal. TWC then made the movie, going in with a budget north of $20 million.
Actually you have to count 0-1 as a year…
Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, who has thumbed his nose at exhibitors in the past, understandably considers this a coup to get a branded title with global appeal.
“Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy and amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty,” he said in a statement. “We are honored to be working with Harvey Weinstein and a world-class team of creators to bring this epic story to people all over the world and to partner with IMAX, a brand that represents the highest quality of immersive entertainment, in the distribution of this film.”
Harvey WeinsteinWeinstein was a bit more reserved in his statement: “The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement. We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.”
Ted SarandosBeing along for the ride helps IMAX broaden its horizons, per senior executive Greg Foster. “IMAX has a terrific opportunity, via this partnership with Netflix, to release Crouching Tiger–a high quality action packed film that is right in our wheelhouse, at the end of the summer blockbuster season,” he said. “We are particularly hopeful it will play in our highly successful China market. In territories where we simultaneously release with Netflix, we are excited to offer consumers the option of deciding how, when and where they want to view the film, and exhibitors the opportunity to participate in this alternative form of content in a new and innovative way.”
Will the status quo theater chains see it that way?
Not just a game changer…
…this looks like full out war.
At least CTHD2 will garner lots of attention.
Regal, Cinemark Slam Imax, Weinstein Co. for ‘Crouching Tiger 2’ Netflix Deal
7:27 AM PST 09/30/2014 by Pamela McClintock
Courtesy of Netflix
“We will not participate in an experiment where you can see the same product on screens varying from three stories tall to 3-inches wide on a smart phone”
Regal, the country’s largest theater chain, has wasted no time in slamming a historic deal to release The Weinstein Co.'s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel simultaneously on Netflix and in select Imax theaters around the world, circumventing the normal theatrical release.
Regal operates 86 Imax locations and will not carry the Netflix title in any of those theaters. And shortly after the Regal announcement, Cinemark, the country’s third largest circuit, and Carmike likewise said they wouldn’t participate.
“Cinemark does not play day-and-date movie releases on any of our screens including the Imax screens that we operate,” a spokesman said. Cinemark operates 14 Imax theaters.
Among the big three, that leaves AMC Entertainment, which has been more willing than other chains to play specialty movies that are getting a simultaneous VOD release. AMC, which has the biggest Imax presence, has yet to weigh in on the Netflix deal, but insiders say the exhibitor could end up carrying it in some Imax locations.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend will make its debut Aug. 28, 2015. When announcing the deal Monday night, Netflix and Imax said it will be the first of several major films to be given a day-and-date release.
“At Regal Cinemas, presenting movies on a grand scale is our promise to movie fans as we work to continually enhance the moviegoing experience. We recognize that there is a tremendous slate of films scheduled for release in 2015 and we couldnt be more excited by the prospects,” Regal spokesman Russ Nunley said in a statement.
“While a home video release may be simultaneously performing in certain IMAX locations, at Regal we will not participate in an experiment where you can see the same product on screens varying from three stories tall to 3 wide on a smart phone. We believe the choice for truly enjoying a magnificent movie is clear,” he continued.
On Wall Street, at least one analyst was bullish on the deal. Eric Wold of B. Riley & Co. noted in report that most day-and-date VOD experiments have been attempted with “unsuccessful, lower-budget films.” However, considering the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, “the sequel actually brings a solid franchise property into this equation.”
Wold predicted that many would boycott playing the film in Netflix territories, but noted that the sequel’s Imax prospects are strong in China, where there is no Netflix. “We believe this news only helps to further validate the importance of the Imax format to the industry as a major player in the evolving industrys future,” he added.
Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, has long wanted to release movies day-and-date on Netflix and in theaters, something most exhibitors are unlikely to ever allow, since they believe in preserving the theatrical window.
Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty, Sarandos said in announcing the deal. We are honored to be working with Harvey Weinstein and a world-class team of creators to bring this epic story to people all over the world and to partner with Imax, a brand that represents the highest quality of immersive entertainment, in the distribution of this film.
Added TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein: The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement, in a statement. We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.
Sept. 30, 8:15 a.m. Updated with Cinemark statement.
Gotta give you props for posting this first Doug
I poached the story below off your fb too. 
AMC Theatres Boycotting ‘Crouching Tiger 2’ in Major Blow for Netflix, Imax
2:30 PM PST 09/30/2014 by Pamela McClintock
Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Open Road Films/AP Images
AMC chief Gerry Lopez
The giant exhibitor won’t carry the film in any of the 147 Imax theaters it operates in the U.S., while parent company Wanda may not carry it in China
Japan’s SoftBank Eyes Stake in Legendary as DreamWorks Animation Talks Break Down (Exclusive) »
AMC Theatres has joined the country’s two other largest chains in slamming a plan to release the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel directly on Netflix and in select Imax locations, saying it won’t play the film in any of its Imax venues.
“AMC Theatres and Wanda Cinema are the largest operators of Imax-equipped auditoriums in the world. We license just the technology from Imax. Only AMC and Wanda decide what programming plays in our respective theaters. No one has approached us to license this made-for-video sequel in the U.S. or China, so one must assume the screens Imax committed are in science centers and aquariums,” AMC said in a terse statement.
The historic Netflix-Imax deal was announced Monday night, prompting immediate outrage among exhibitors gathered together this week in Los Angeles for a National Association of Theater Owners meeting, since it makes the movie available simultaneously in the home and on the big screen. Regal and Cinemark were the first to weigh in, followed by Carmike, and now AMC. Between them, AMC, Regal and Cinemark alone operate 247 Imax locations, the vast majority of the 400 Imax sites in North America.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend will make its debut Aug. 28, 2015. Netflix has long wanted to get into the first-run movie business and actually co-financed the $60 million-plus sequel with The Weinstein Co.
AMC’s boycott is especially problematic because it operates 146 locations in the U.S., the most of any circuit. Regal follows with 86.
Read more Imax CEO on ‘Crouching Tiger 2’ Netflix Ruckus: “I Knew It Wouldn’t Work for Some People”
Chinese conglomerate Wanda, AMC’s parent company, has the biggest Imax footprint overseas, so that also poses a problem. Imax has particularly ambitious plans for Crouching Tiger 2 in China, since there is no Netflix there.
In the past, Gerry Lopez’s AMC, unlike most other exhibitors, has been willing to play select titles that are getting a day-and-date VOD release, but the distributors generally have to rent the theaters. AMC, however, does not appear willing to extend that courtesy to Crouching Tiger 2.
In Europe, giant exhibitor Cineworld also has denounced the plan, saying it won’t carry the sequel either. Ditto for Cineplex in Canada.
Imax only owns a handful of its theaters. The rest are joint ventures with exhibitors, with Imax providing the theaters and taking a piece of the box office. It also operates about 125 theaters in museums, science centers and aquariums.
When announcing the Green Legend deal, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos and Imax said it will be the first of several major films to be given a day-and-date release on the platform.
More boycotters
I have been in dialog with John Fusco about this. We’ll have something from him soon, something exclusive (although it might not be about this topic right yet…;))
As Theaters Boycott Netflix, Collapsed Windows Seen as Inevitable
September 30, 2014 | 05:42PM PT
Brent Lang
Senior Film and Media Reporter @BrentALang
Major theater chains are united in their opposition to a plan by IMAX, Netflix and the Weinstein Co. to make “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend” available for streaming on the same day it hits theaters in 2015 but the question remains — how much longer can theater owners withstand the battering ram of technology?
The “Crouching Tiger” standoff heated up Tuesday after the four largest exhibitors in the U.S., AMC, Regal, Cinemark and Carmike, pledged not to show the martial arts sequel next year. That represents 257 of IMAX’s 418 U.S. screens, and these theater chains were joined by Canada’s largest exhibitor Cineplex, and Europe’s second largest theater chain, Cineworld, in a boycott that has grown international in scope.
It means “Crouching Tiger” could play on a limited number of IMAX screens in the U.S., and likely for no more than two weeks, the typical IMAX playing time.
But their efforts may be for naught, analysts say. Even if they succeed in preventing the “Crouching Tiger” revival from showing in theaters while it bows on Netflix at the same time, the old release date patterns are starting to look too archaic to the current insta-generation of consumers.
“The reality is that the future is going to be a lot different in the way that movies are consumed,” said Daniel Ernst, an analyst at Hudson Square Research. “There is zero doubt in my mind that over the next 20 years a lot of these windowing things will erode.”
Tuesday’s show of solidarity among theater owners has not been seen since 2011, when exhibitors banded together and refused to screen “Tower Heist” after Universal unveiled a plan to make the action comedy available on-demand for $60 three weeks after hitting theaters. Since then a tentative peace agreement has adhered to at least a three month window between when a film debuts and when it premieres on home entertainment platforms.
But Hollywood knows that change is coming — a lot faster than 20 years from now.
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg predicted earlier this year that theatrical windows would shrink to three weeks in the next 10 years, suggesting that audiences should “pay by the inch” to see a movie based on the size of the screen they watch it on.
“A movie screen will be $15,” he said, “A 75-inch TV will be $4. A smartphone will be $1.99.”
Privately, other studio executives may also be ready for the next step. There’s a sense among many Hollywood leaders that the window between a film’s theatrical debut and its release on homevideo is too long, especially for the Internet age. Plus, studios spend tens of millions of dollars marketing films to the masses only to have to turn around and shell out again to re-familiarize audiences with a particular picture when it hits home platforms.
“The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement,” said TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein in Monday’s announcement.
IMAX claims that the “Crouching Tiger” experiment’s success hinges on its burgeoning network of overseas theaters, but it will need a much warmer reception overseas than it received among North American and European exhibition giants.
If it works, the theater company, Netflix and the Weinstein Company aren’t ruling out other release date tests.
“If there’s an appetite there among exhibitors and among audiences we expect to do several more, but I’m not committed to a strategy,” said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. “We’re going in with our eyes open and we were fully aware of the issues people might have.”
IMAX will have over 200 screens in China by the time the “Crouching Tiger” sequel debuts on Aug. 28, 2015, so it may be able to make up for the loss of China’s Wanda, which owns AMC theaters. It also helps that Netflix does not operate in China, which means the film will not ignite as much controversy among exhibitors.
“Provided it gets through the quota on foreign films, this is an important market and we do intend to show it there,” said Gelfond. “Given the nature of the film, it should do well there.”
Not every one is convinced that releasing the “Crouching Tiger” film on Netflix and in theaters at the same time endangers ticket buying. The late August release date was selected by IMAX and its partners because it historically is one of the worst box office weekends of the year. Moreover, the film itself is modestly budgeted in the $20 million range.
“We believe there are a number of relatively small sized budget films ($15mn-$30mn) which could draw an audience via Netflix without impacting exhibition industry grosses,” wrote Eric Handler, an analyst with MKM Partners, in a note to investors. “In fact there are hundreds of films every year that bypass theatres and launch direct to DVD/VOD.”
He noted that films like “Arbitrage” and “Margin Call” have been unveiled on-demand at the same time they hit theater without disrupting the exhibition game — all films that opened in limited release, like Radius-TWC’s own VOD success this summer, “Snowpiercer.”
If theater chains want to thwart the digital threats, analysts argue, they need to improve the premium nature of their experience. Not only must they compete with each other, they would need to head off against gleaming home entertainment systems and the ubiquity and convenience of streaming services and mobile devices.
“It’s got to be different,” said Ernst. “You’ve got to win customers every single day.”
There is one issue on which theater chains and IMAX’s leadership agree: the best way to see a movie is in theaters.
“A movie like ‘Crouching Tiger,’ which is a visual spectacle that comes off a highly successful prequel, should be seen in the way it was meant to be seen — with big screens, big images and great sound,” said Gelfond.
The only difference is that in the case of the “Crouching Tiger” sequel, people can see it on a 3-inch screen instead, and that’s what has theater chains seeing red.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misattributed the investor note by Eric Handler to a different analyst.
Release postponed until Q1 2016
Beasts of No Nation, Ridiculous Six, Crouching Tiger & Pee-wee Dated by Netflix
BY CS ON JULY 7, 2015
Netflix announces the Beasts of No Nation release date and more
Netflix announced today the rollout of its original film initiative with Beasts of No Nation, the powerful new film written and directed by Emmy Award winner Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, Sin Nombre) and starring Golden Globe winner Idris Elba (Luther, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) that will debut Friday, October 16, 2015 worldwide on Netflix, in all territories where the worlds leading Internet TV network is available, and on the same day in select U.S. theaters. U.S. film distribution company Bleecker Street will partner with Netflix to distribute Beasts of No Nation to theaters.
The Ridiculous Six will be the first of four Adam Sandler films available only on Netflix. The film stars Sandler (Pixels, Grown Ups, Grown Ups 2), Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Expendables 3, The Longest Yard), Jorge Garcia (Lost, Hawaii Five-0, The Wedding Ringer), Taylor Lautner (Grown Ups 2, The Twilight Saga), Rob Schneider (50 First Dates, Grown Ups), Luke Wilson (The Skeleton Twins, Enlightened) and Nick Nolte (Parker, Warrior, Tropic Thunder). The film will premiere exclusively for Netflix members on Friday, December 11, 2015.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend will be released theatrically in China and on IMAX and on Netflix globally in Q1 2016.
Pee-wees Big Holiday, starring beloved, fun-loving character Pee-wee Herman, will premiere on Netflix in March 2016.
Beasts of No Nation is based on the highly acclaimed novel by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, bringing to life the gripping tale of Agu, a child soldier torn from his family to fight in the civil war of an African country. Newcomer Abraham Attah gives a stunning portrayal of Agu, while Elba dominates the screen in the role of Commandant, a warlord who takes in Agu and instructs him in the ways of war. The film is produced by Amy Kaufman and Cary Fukunaga (who previously worked together on Sin Nombre), Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker and Dan Crown for Red Crown Productions, along with Elba. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King are executive producers for Participant Media and Donna Gigliotti is executive producer for Levantine Films.
The Ridiculous Six, a Happy Madison Production, is a comedic, western ensemble produced by Adam Sandler and Allen Covert. The film was directed by Frank Coraci (The Wedding Singer) and written by Tim Herlihy (Pixels) and Adam Sandler (Pixels, Grown Ups 1 and 2, Big Daddy).
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend is based on the acclaimed novel, Iron Knight, Silver Vase, by Wang Dulu (book 5 in the Crane-Iron Pentalogy) and was written by John Fusco (Marco Polo) was directed by Yuen Wo-Ping (Tai Chi Master), who was also the action choreographer on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill and The Matrix. The film stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Lady) reprising her role as Yu Shu-Lien; Donnie Yen (Ip Man 1&2, Monkey King 3D) as Silent Wolf; Harry Shum Jr (Glee, Revenge of the Green Dragons); Jason Scott Lee (Seventh Son, Hawaii Five-O); Roger Yuan (Bulletproof Monk); Eugenia Yuan (Revenge of the Green Dragons); and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo. Produced by The Weinstein Company, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend echoes the themes of the original movie, but tells its own story one of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption, set against breathtaking action in an epic martial arts battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of the Martial World. The film is produced by Harvey Weinstein and Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey and executive produced by Morten Tyldum, Ralph Winter, Anthony Wong, and Bey Logan.
In Pee-wees Big Holiday, a fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny. Judd Apatow (Anchorman, Bridesmaids) and Paul Reubens (Pee-wees Big Adventure, Pee-wees Playhouse), worked together to bring the project to fruition and produced the film. It was written by Reubens and Paul Rust (Comedy Bang! Bang!, Arrested Development), and is directed by John Lee (Wonder Showzen, The Heart She Holler).
A magazine that was less on top of their coverage might have gone ahead and run a story on CTHD2 based on the previous release date. Not that I’m mentioning any names.
We didn’t because we already knew a few months ago.
China premiere Feb. 8, 2016
I wonder if the U.S. premiere will coincide. I imagine it will.
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2’ unveils mystery
By Zhang Rui
Cast and crew, studio executives and representatives pose for a photo at a press conference to unveil “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend” in Beijing on Sept. 14, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]
The much anticipated sequel of the Academy Award winning Chinese film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” has set eyes on release during the profitable Spring Festival film season in 2016, studios announced on Monday.
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend,” directed by famous Chinese martial arts choreographer and film director Yuen Woo-ping, will star Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh. China Film Group Corp, Pegasus Media, Netflix and the Weinstein Co. have co-produced the film. The principal photography was done in China and New Zealand.
The story will continue from the original one and is adapted from the fifth and final book of the Crane-Iron Series, “Iron Knight, Silver Vase” written by Wang Dulu.
Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” set the bar high in 2000, grossing US$213.5 million and winning four Oscars, including Best Foreign Language Film.
When the sequel began preparation, the studios took it to Ang Lee, but he turned it down. Then they invited Ronny Yu (director of “Fearless,” and “Freddy vs. Jason”) to helm the project. Yu also declined, fearing he wouldn’t be able to top Ang Lee’s original.
Not only the director, but the actors have also declined participation. The old cast of Chow Yun-fat, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen will not reprise their roles, either.
Yuen, the martial arts choreographer for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” eventually settled as the sequel’s director saying, "I’m facing the challenge while understanding the difficulties. Although I know we made a classic before, I’m still willing to try. " According to Sun Jianjun, president of Pegasus Media and one of the film’s producers, the script for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2” has been rewritten and polished 10 times in 6 to 7 years.
Yuen also said he was at first unsatisfied with the initial script presented by American script writer John Fusco, which led to the delay of filming, saying “Americans don’t really understand Chinese inner feelings and emotion. I knew he did a lot of research, but it still wasn’t enough, and the story is flat. I had to get a Chinese script writer to help, to explore more depth in the inner core of Chinese emotions.”
The film also hired special effects, makeup and costume professionals from the “The Lord of the Rings” series to work on the production. Sun Jianjun promised that it would “retain the Oriental flavor of the first installment while presenting more stunning visual effects with the help of foreign expertise.”
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II” will be released in China on Feb. 8, 2016, during the traditional Chinese Spring Festival. The film will later debut in the United States both on IMAX screens and on Netflix simultaneously. Netflix’s representative Sarah Bowen feels the film has the potential to be a breakthrough for the Hollywood distribution tradition.
A still of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend” is released to the public. [Photo/Xinhua]
A still of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend” is released to the public. [Photo/Xinhua]
A still of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend” is released to the public. [Photo/Xinhua]
A still of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend” is released to the public. [Photo/Xinhua]
The book
FORMAT:
Pub Date: 1/26/2016
Season: Fall 2015
Pages: 320
Trim: 6.00 x 9.00 inches
Publisher: Weinstein Publishing
Imprint: Weinstein Books
ISBN 13: 9781602862876
ISBN 10: 1602862877
Price: $15.00 / $18.99 CAN
Status: Forthcoming
Carton Qty: 20
Category: Antiques & Collectibles
Subcategory: General
Category: Fiction
Subcategory: Media Tie-In
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
By Justin Hill, with Wang Dulu
The film-tie in to the CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY, the hotly anticipated sequel to the record-breaking Chinese martial arts film, and based on the never-before-translated original books.
Another life-altering quest, another struggle between honor and lust for power, another generation of warriors forging alliances and enmities. The adventure, romance, and artistry of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon continues in this novelized companion to the first ever Netflix debut film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny based on the novel by Wang Dulu.
Seventeen years after the legendary fighter Mubai dies protecting the world-conquering sword The Green Destiny, four great warriors are called together to guard the formidable weapon once more. The forces surrounding the sword irrevocably altered the life of Shulien, Mubai’s lover, but seventeen years later she is still honor-bound to defend the blade from the power-hungry warlord Hades Dai. The young fighters Wei-fang and Snow Vase, switched at birth, also have heritages and inheritances that inextricably link them to both each other and the fate of the sword. And Silent Wolf, Shulien’s former fiancé, returns from presumed death to thwart Hades Daiand rekindle an emotionally isolated Shulien’s feelings.
Jam-packed with all the hallmarks of an epic adventuresacrifice, battles, betrayal, vengeance, redemption, and destinythis saga also explores the deeper meaning of true heroism and virtue. As Wei-fang and Snow Vase search for identity and forge their places in the world of warriors and heroes, Shu-lien and Silent Wolf struggle to reconcile both the traditions and heartbreak of the past with a fragile hope for the future.
Justin Hill was born in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island but grew up in York. As an adult, he worked for seven years with the Voluntary Service Overseas in rural China and Africa. Hill’s works have been nominated for the Man Booker Prize three times and have also received many awards and honors, including the Betty Trask Award and Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize for his first novel, The Drink and Dream Teahouse. He lives in Hong Kong.
Wang Dulu (pen name of Wang Baoxiang) is widely considered the master of the wuxia genre and is most well-known for his five-part Crane-Iron Series, which has never before been translated into English. Born into a poor family in Beijing in 1909, Wang Dulu worked at a small newspaper and as a clerk for a merchant association before becoming a writer of romance, detective, and wuxia novels. He lived through many periods of political upheaval, including the New Culture Movement, May Fourth Movement, and Chinese Revolution. During Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, Wang Dulu was deployed to the countryside and sentenced to farm labor. He died in 1977 and was survived by his wife and three children.
This is great that they are translating the original novel. Or wait…is it a script novelization? Because those usually suck. 
Feb 26, 2016
Changing the title from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II: The Green Destiny to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: Sword of Destiny
CCR? srsly? :rolleyes:
Huanxi and Mubi
Just like KFP3, there’s a lot more happening in China with this than here in the States. Both films are plays to penetrate the bamboo curtain.
January 13, 2016 10:38 pm
Mogul behind Crouching Tiger film to launch streaming service
Robert Cookson, Digital Media Correspondent
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ was co-produced by Dong Ping
The Chinese movie mogul behind Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has formed a joint venture with a London-based start-up to launch a film streaming service in China.
Dong Ping, who sold film production company ChinaVision to Alibaba for $800m in 2014, last year took control of Hong Kong-listed company Huanxi Media. Huanxi will announce on Thursday that it has agreed an alliance with Mubi, a streaming service headquartered in the UK.
Chinas cinema box office revenues surged 40 per cent last year to $6.8bn and the country will overtake the US as the worlds largest movie market by 2018, according to research group IHS. But its market for film subscription services is still relatively small.
Netflix, the worlds largest film streaming service, which expanded into 130 more countries this month, has yet to enter China having failed to obtain permission from the government to do so.
Huanxi and Mubi said they expected to launch their service in China this year, though they declined to detail how they would obtain the necessary licences from Beijing.
We know how to navigate through all the regulations, said Steven Xiang, chief executive of Huanxi Media.
Mubis rivals in the Chinese market include Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu, whose video offering iQiyi has more than 10m paying subscribers.
Efe Cakarel, chief executive of Mubi, said the service had the potential to attract millions of subscribers thanks to its exclusive access to films produced by Huanxi.
Well have exclusive access to potentially the biggest films coming out of China, he said.
Ning Hao and Xu Zheng, two of Chineses most successful film directors, are co-founders of Huanxi and will be making original content for the group. Lost in Hong Kong, their latest production, has grossed more than $250m at the Chinese box office, making it one of the countrys most commercially successful films.
Huanxi has agreed to invest $40m in the joint venture and will own 70 per cent of the new company.
Mubi is licensing its streaming technology in perpetuity to the venture and providing operational expertise in exchange for a 30 per cent stake.
Huanxi has also agreed to invest $10m for an 8 per cent stake in Mubi itself, valuing the company at $125m. In its last funding round in 2014, Mubi was valued at $25m.
One of the main ways that Mubi differs from other streaming services is that it offers a small catalogue of just 30 films at any one time. Each day a new title is added and another is removed a product feature that Mubi has patented in the US.
Opens next Friday
I will watch it on Netflix first. If I really like it, I’ll go for the IMAX/3D experience assuming I have the time to get out to the movies.
I saw Monkey King 2 in 3D and paid $17+ for it. And it was totally worth it.
I saw Deadpool in IMAX and would have been disappointed if I had paid for it (saw a screener).
Imax CEO on ‘Crouching Tiger 2’ Netflix Ruckus: “I Knew It Wouldn’t Work for Some People”
10:57 AM PDT 9/30/2014 by Pamela McClintock
Rich Gelfond
Rich Gelfond insists the revolutionary deal to release the sequel simultaneously on Netflix and in select Imax locations does not threaten theatrical windows
Ted Sarandos, the maverick chief content officer of Netflix, first approached Imax CEO Rich Gelfond a year ago with a tantalizing, and controversial, prospect: Why not release new films simultaneously on the streaming service and in Imax theaters?
Those conversations turned into a reality with Monday’s announcement that sequel Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, produced by The Weinstein Co., will make its debut Aug. 28, 2015, on Netflix and in select Imax venues, bypassing traditional theaters. Netflix, intent on getting into the first-run movie business, and Imax expect to release several such titles each year.
Read more Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Slams Theater Owners: They ‘Try to Strangle Innovation’ (Video)
Regal, Cinemark and Carmike, three of the country’s four biggest chains, immediately slammed the plan, saying they wouldn’t play Green Legend in any of their Imax venues (Regal operates 86; Cinemark, 14). Even as movie attendance dwindles, theater owners continue to insist upon a three- to four-month window between a movie’s debut on the big screen and in the home.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gelfond said he was well aware there would be resistance.
“I knew it wouldn’t work for some people,” Gelfond explained. “We’ve been an innovator for 20 years and frequently when you come up with a new idea, not everybody is going to like it. I understand that people are reluctant to change, but if you look at our track record, everything that we’ve done has ultimately benefited the box office. If we sat on our hands, there would be no Imax.”
There are roughly 400 Imax theaters in the U.S. and another 320 overseas. Imax itself owns only four or five, while the rest are joint ventures. With Regal and Cinemark out of the running, AMC Entertainment — the country’s second-largest circuit — is the big question mark, since it operates more Imax theaters than anyone in the U.S., while parent company Wanda has the biggest footprint overseas.
So far, AMC hasn’t commented on whether it will carry the Crouching Tiger sequel in its Imax theaters, but insiders point out that AMC has been known to rent its theaters to specialty distributors for day-and-date VOD releases. Gelfond declined to comment on those discussions.
“I can tell you that I’ve met with international exhibitors and domestic exhibitors over a period of time to talk about this from a theoretical perspective. Some were completely opposed, while others said they would be somewhat flexible,” he said.
Gelfond said Imax is a “huge supporter of the windowing system” and that it will only release day-and-date Netflix titles during down times at the box office, such as the end of August, when moviegoing falls off dramatically (as fate would have it, the only title set for nationwide release on Aug. 28, 2015, so far is TWC’s thriller Regression).
“We think of it as alternative content, like the opera. We can come up with a very high quality film and you have the choice to play it. No one is saying you have to play it. We would not do anything to undercut windows. But in this case, at that time of year, it’s like the opera or another special event. There are no blockbusters and we are trying to give people a choice,” Gelfond continued.
Gelfond said they narrowed in on Green Legend in the last month.
“Originally, they [Netlflix] wanted to release it on a competitive date and we were not interested. We won’t disrupt the windowing system,” he said.
Two key markets where there won’t be a conflict over Green Legend is China and Korea, where Netflix isn’t available. Imax has a massive presence in China, where there are more than 130 theaters.
Regal didn’t mince words when addressing the Netflix-Imax alliance: “While a home video release may be simultaneously performing in certain Imax locations, at Regal we will not participate in an experiment where you can see the same product on screens varying from three stories tall to 3 inches wide on a smartphone. We believe the choice for truly enjoying a magnificent movie is clear.”
For his part, TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein praised Netflix when announcing the deal for Green Legend, which comes 15 years after Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon turned into a cultural phenomenon (Lee is not directing the sequel).
“The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement,” Weinstein said in a statement. “We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.”
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny - Trailer 2 - Netflix [HD]
Meanwhile, in PRC
A bus stop ad for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny in Beijing. (Fergus Ryan)
After Chinese moviegoers helped shatter multiple records during the Lunar New Year holiday, the box office looks to continue its hot streak for one more weekend before students return to school on Monday, February 22.
Fans of Stephen Chow’s comedy juggernaut The Mermaid () appear to have no intention of slowing down and the film could once again dominate this weekend’s charts. Distributed by Beijing Enlight Media, The Mermaid currently sits at RMB 2.35 billion ($360 million) in sales, over just 11 days in release, and will pass Monster Hunt sometime Friday to become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.
Several new films will debut in Chinese cinemas this weekend in a last-chance bid to draw students at the tail end of their holiday. These include two imported animated features: Thomas & Friends (), which marks the first foray into the Chinese movie market for toy brand Mattel, and a rare Japanese import Boruto: Naruto the Movie ().
But there is only one new release with a fighting chance to break the hold of the three big Lunar New Year films currently on the market (The Mermaid, From Vegas to Macau III, and The Monkey King 2), and that is the long-awaited sequel Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (), a U.S.-China co-production from the Weinstein Company, Netflix, and China Film Group. Below, CFI takes a look at several key metrics that will determine the film’s potential box office draw.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny ()
China Distribution: Wuzhou Film Distribution ()
Buzz 4/10
Coming at the tail-end of the hottest moviegoing period in Chinese history, Sword of Destiny has found it difficult to gain much traction on Chinese social media. Its official Weibo account was established nearly three months ago, but has woefully few followers — only 2,000 to date.
Press screenings also suggest that Chinese viewers are finding it difficult to accept American John Fusco’s adapted script of the Chinese novel by Wang Dulu, and they also complained about the use of Chinese-American actors. One Douban user put it bluntly: “It really made me angry that this film pretended to be a Chinese movie, yet used actors from the American TV show Glee,” referring to actor Harry Shum, Jr.
Audience 3/10
The original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came out in 2000 and was never released in mainland theaters. While there are some devoted fans of the first film—many of them lovers of the wuxia (martial arts) genre or followers of director Ang Lee’s films—the Chinese movie landscape has changed so drastically in the past 16 years that the younger filmgoers driving the current box office boom simply won’t be interested in this kind of “old” story.
Release Date 5/10
Sword of Destiny was originally scheduled for release on Lunar New Year’s Day, but in early January distributor Wuzhou—Wanda’s distribution arm—wisely chose to postpone its opening by 11 days to avoid a bloodbath amid strong competition. The movie will at least have three days with decent screen percentages and premium-priced IMAX tickets before the winter holidays conclude. Still, if the movie fails to generate good word of mouth, ticket sales will fall off considerably after the opening weekend.
Celebrity Power 4/10
Chinese star Zhang Ziyi pulled out of the sequel once director Ang Lee bowed out, and without the two of them and Chow Yun-Fat, who starred in the original, the sequel lacks considerable star power. Donnie Yen (Ip Man) joins the Michelle Yeoh (the only returning actress), bringing their considerable fan bases to the table.
CFI Score 3/10
There is something fundamentally wrong, and even offensive to some, about the production of a film adapted from a Chinese novel using a script written by an American writer, with two Chinese stars and a host of unknown ethnically Chinese performers, performing in English, and dubbed into Mandarin for a domestic mainland audience.
It may be expected (and even hoped) that Chinese audiences will shun Sword of Destiny and, in doing so, send a message that this should not become a model for future U.S.-China co-productions. Ang Lee’s 2000 film, entirely in Mandarin and subtitled, drew critical acclaim around the world and became the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever to play in the United States (by a very large margin) by offering a uniquely creative vision that transcended language and resonated deeply with audiences. Its sequel has far more limited prospects.
—Follow Jonathan Papish on Twitter @ChinaBoxOffice
Not only was it that the original wasn’t shown in PRC, it was generally disregarded because of the accents. A lot of mainlanders and Taiwanese didn’t care for Chow Yun Fat’s heavily southern accent. I remember it was compared to doing Shakespeare with a southern drawl.
by Harvey Weinstein
‘Crouching Tiger’ Sequel: An American Filmmaker’s Quest To Make The First Eastern Western – Guest Column
by Harvey Weinstein
February 19, 2016 3:33pm
Netflix
Sixteen years after Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon became a worldwide phenomenon, the sequel has been released today in China ahead of its U.S. debut via Netflix on February 26. Directed by Yuen Wo-ping, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny stars the original’s Michelle Yeoh along with Donnie Yen, Harry Shum Jr and Jason Scott Lee. It grossed about $10M in its first Middle Kingdom day today, giving it the No. 2 spot behind juggernaut The Mermaid, and setting it up for a potential $40M weekend. Occasional Deadline contributor Harvey Weinstein, one of the film’s producers, offers his take on expanding a classic:
As the Chinese saying has it, “When you drink the water, remember from where the water flows.” From my very first experiences watching Chinese action cinema, I was committed to sharing my love for this genre, known as wu xia, with the rest of the world. The film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny is a product of this long-held ambition, a summation of my lifelong passion for Chinese culture in general and wu xia cinema in specific.
When I was first set out to bring the best of Chinese martial arts cinema to the West, I benefited from the unique insight and energy of Quentin Tarantino, perhaps the only mainstream American filmmaker to have seen more Asian action movies that I have. After we saw Yuen Woo-ping’s masterful Iron Monkey, Quentin and I released the film theatrically in North America. We later collaborated with Master Yuen on the hugely successful Kill Bill movies.
After I discovered the films of Donnie Yen, then the rising star of kung fu movies, I cast him in Highlander: Endgame and later distributed many of his finest films: Hero, Seven Swords and Wu Xia. After I became a fan of Michelle Yeoh, the queen of martial arts action, I released the film Supercop, in which she co-stars with Jackie Chan, as well as some of her traditional kung fu epics including Twin Warriors and John Woo’s Reign Of Assassins. Our co-production of Forbidden Kingdom, our theatrical release of Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster — these are just a few examples of my commitment to bringing Chinese culture to the world market, a commitment that reaches its pinnacle with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. With this film, I finally got the chance to turn my inspiration into action, and to work with some true legends of the Chinese film industry.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny stars Yen and Yeoh, and is directed by the true maestro of the genre, Yuen Woo-ping. To make a movie worthy of the title Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I called on the finest filmmakers from around the world — Oscar-winning designers, Hollywood veterans, cutting-edge visual effects experts. All these diverse hands shared my desire that we paint a tapestry that tells a tale of China, in all the majesty of its culture and history.
All too often, the manner in which a film is made is completely at odds with the message of its story. In this case, everyone behind the camera was infused with the same code of loyalty and commitment as the characters on screen, a code derived from the traditional Chinese values expressed in the script.
When we first announced that we were making this film, everyone asked me, “Why would you want to create a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?” And my answer is that I didn’t create the sequel. The author Wang Du-lu did. He was the one who wrote a fifth book in his series of Iron Crane novels, with director Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon being adapted from the fourth book in the series. In making this film, I felt it was my duty to be true to the spirit of Wang Du-lu, just as my good friends Ang Lee and Bill Kong were when they made the first Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
The greatest respect we could give to Lee was to not try and copy what he had done. Where Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was shot in Mandarin, we filmed in English, with a script by the acclaimed John Fusco, a writer with a profound understanding of both Chinese Easterns and American Westerns. We used this film to explore the common ground between the two genres, inspired in equal part by films like King Hu’s A Touch Of Zen and John Ford’s Fort Apache. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny proves that East and West can meet, and to the benefit of both. Where Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had underperformed in its native territory, we were determined to make a movie that would find favor with Chinese audiences, especially now that China has established itself as such a major theatrical market.
The other question that people ask is, “How does Ang Lee feel about your making this film?” This is best answered by my relating an incident that occurred while director Yuen Woo-ping and one of our producers, Bey Logan, were scouting for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny in New Zealand.
They were visiting Peter Jackson’s Park Road post-production facility where, quite by chance, they met Ang Lee. Ang was quick to express his encouragement to Master Yuen on his making Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. As they parted ways, Bey observed to Ang that he had left them a very tough act to follow. Ang stopped in his tracks and said, “Don’t think that way. Just have fun with it!” And we took his advice as our watchword. Incidentally, the odds against this encounter happening between Ang Lee and Yuen Woo-ping at that time and that place are so astronomical, one would have to accept that it was fated we would receive Ang’s blessing.
The epic canvas afforded by this wu xia epic allowed some of the industry’s finest talents to shine. We were blessed to have the Oscar-winning team of Grant Major and Ngila ****son, the production and costume designers respectively for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, to recreate the colors and textures of this ancient dynasty. These truly spectacular costumes and sets were photographed by Thomas Newton Sigel, the world-renowned cinematographer who previous turned his lens to the hit X-Men film series. Seeing how the world of action cinema has progressed since the first Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, both Tom and director Yuen were determined to create a new visual language for our action scenes, a style that would pay homage to the genre’s earlier classics, but also enhance it. For one of the standout set pieces, a swordplay duel on a frozen lake, we relied on the skills of Oscar-winning VFX designer Mark Stetson.
Director Yuen Woo-ping proves once again what a unique talent he is in terms of directing a wu xia with heart as well as blood. I have admired the films he’s directed, including Drunken Master and Wing Chun, and those he has choreographed, such as Fist Of Legend and Fearless.
From my Miramax era until now, I’ve released about 200 hundred Chinese films, including many of Master Yuen’s classics. The fact that Yuen Woo-ping is held in such high regard attracted people like Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) and Peter Berg (Lone Survivor), world-class directors in their own right, to fly to New Zealand to provide their unique energy and insights in support of Master Yuen’s vision.
In terms of our cast, we were truly blessed to have Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as Yu Shu-lien. I asked Master Yuen to convince Michelle to come on board. I knew from personal experience that Michelle can say “no” in five languages, but never to Yuen Woo-ping. On-camera, Michelle is the very heart of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Off-camera, she has been the true compass of our film, always making sure we stayed on course.
Opposite Michelle we have Donnie Yen, a true martial hero, for real and reel, the star of the highly acclaimed Ip Man film series. I’m very proud that this film shows Donnie’s acting and action skills in equal measure, and in a movie that will reach those fans who still refuse to watch subtitled films. The chemistry between Donnie and Michelle is electric in any language, but pairing them in the first English-language wu xia will bring their talents, and those of everyone involved in the film, to a massive new worldwide audience.
It also proved a blessing that my friends Ted Sarandos and Pauline Fischer at Netflix shared our aim and commitment to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. They have proved to be the true comrades every warrior hopes to have at their side, and we couldn’t have made the film we made without their creative contributions. I was also lucky to have the financial and moral support of my good friend Ron Burkle of Yucaipa, and of course a wonderful Chinese partner company in Pegasus, which is run by the tireless and inspired Jay Sun and Victor Li.
I’m proud to offer this film to international audiences, to give them a new and enlightened perspective on Chinese culture, and to the Chinese people, whose timeless art and traditions inspired everyone who made it.
I’m looking forward to watching this on Netflix this Friday. That’ll be my reward for surviving this week.