Continuing its push into Chinese production, Lava Bear Films has come on board to produce Sammo Hung‘s upcoming action thriller The Bodyguard. Lava Bear will co-produce with Edko Films, Irresistible Films and Focus Films.
The film, starring Hung and Chinese superstar Andy Lau follows a retired bodyguard (Hung) who has settled in the dark and unknown corner of the world where China, Russia and North Korea meet. Suffering from the beginnings of dementia, the bodyguard is befriended by a young girl whose life is threatened when her father (Lau) falls in with the local crime world. When the girl and her father disappear, the bodyguard must call upon his long forgotten skills to save the life of his young friend.
Currently in production in Northern China, the movie will be released in summer 2015.
Lava Bear’s David Linde and Tory Metzger will serve as executive producers. Lava Bear most recently was involved as producers on Zhang Yimou‘s Coming Home, which premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and will be released by Sony Pictures Classics, as well as Yimou’s Flowers of War, which earned more than $90 million in China and was the country’s nominee for the foreign-language Academy Award.
Linde’s work with Chinese filmmakers, including partnerships with Kong, spans nearly two decades, beginning with Chen Kaige‘s Palme d’Or winning Farewell My Concubine and continuing with Ang Lee‘s Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Jet Li‘s Fearless and Yimou’s global hit Hero, among many others. Metzger also is no stranger to Chinese filmmakers. The former CAA agent Metzger once repped Lee.
The Bodyguard is being produced by Bill Kong (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero), Lau (Firestorm, A Simple Life), Chan Pui-wah (Firestorm, A Simple Life) and Ivy Ho (Cold War, Rise of the Legend).
“It’s intrinsic to Lava Bear that we grow where film is growing and to do so with talented filmmakers,” Linde said. “To be working with Bill again, not to mention such iconic artists as Sammo Hung and Andy Lau, is simply thrilling.”
Added Kong, “It is great to be working together with David and Andy again. The last time the three of us were together was House of the Flying Daggers, and I look forward to coming up with something even more special.”
Lava Bear’s Jennifer Semler will shepherd The Bodyguard for the production company.
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source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lava-bear-produce-chinese-action-734649
