Fox, STAR, Huayi Team for Chinese Comedy

BEIJING/HONG KONG/LOS ANGELES: Fox Filmed Entertainment, through its Fox International Productions (FIP) unit, is working with STAR Greater China and the Chinese production venture Huayi Brothers Media on the romantic comedy Hot Summer Days.

The Chinese-language romantic comedy is co-directed by first time directors Wing Shya–a renowned cinematographer and fashion photographer whose work includes 2046 and In the Mood for Love—and screenwriter Tony Chan. Director Fruit Chan and veteran filmmaker Paul Cheng are co-producers, with a cast drawn from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Daniel Wu, Rene Liu and Vivian Hsu, among others. It tells six intertwined stories in which people discover different aspects of love. Principal photography began last month and filming is under way in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The release is scheduled for early 2010, with Huayi Brothers handling the Chinese distribution and Twentieth Century Fox taking care of the rest of the world. STAR holds pay-TV rights to the film in Asia excluding China.

“We are very excited to be making our first Chinese film, Hot Summer Days,” said Sanford Panitch, the president of Fox International Productions. “China is undoubtedly one of the most exciting markets in the world today; and we hope this is just the beginning for Fox to make movies in the region.”