Columbia Pictures Partners With China Film Co., Ltd. On The Chinese Remake Of "My Best Friend's Wedding"

CULVER CITY, Calif., May 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Pictures and China Film Co., Ltd. announced its latest local language co-production, the Chinese remake of the romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding. The film, slated for release in China on Valentine's Day 2016, features Shu Qi (Gone With The Bullets, Journey To The West: Conquering the Demons; If You Are The One), Feng Shaofeng (Wolf Totem, The Golden Era, The Continent); Song Qian aka Chinese singer and actress Victoria Song, one of the most popular young stars in China (My New Sassy Girl); and Ye Qing (Man of Tai Chi, Brotherhood of Blades).

Alexi Tan (Blood Brothers, Color Me Love) will direct and produce with his company, Play Productions.  Principal photography commences in late July of this year shooting on location in London, Italy and Beijing.

In the film, Journalists Gu Jia and Lin Ran have grown up together as best friends.  One day, Lin Ran calls Gu Jia from the UK telling her that he is getting married to someone he only just met, a wealthy Chinese girl who has been studying in the UK, and asks Gu Jia to be his "best man."  Gu Jia finally realizes that she loves him, not just as a friend, and sets out for London a few days before the wedding determined to win him back.

Director Alexi Tan, educated in London and at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, began his career as a photographer working with major international publications. After moving to Asia, he began a successful career directing TV commercials, music videos, and producing content for leading luxury brands. He went on to direct two features including Blood Brothers, executive produced by John Woo and Terence Chang and selected as the closing night film at the 64th Venice International Film Festival, and Color Me Love.

The script was written by Hong Jiu, Fu Linran and Alexi Tan. Hong Jiu has published several popular online novels including We Live Together.

"We are delighted to be collaborating with Columbia Pictures on this exciting remake of what has become an international comedy classic," said Ling Hong, an executive from China Film Co., Ltd.  

Dede Nickerson, Head of Production and Strategic Development, Sony Pictures China, based in Beijing added, "We are thrilled to be working with our partner China Film, Alexi and this incredible cast to create what is sure to be a hilarious and touching film for the Chinese audience."

Columbia Pictures is also currently in post-production on director Chen Kaige's dark comedy Monk Comes Down the Mountain starring Wang Baoqiang, Aaron Kwok, Chang Chen, Chiling Lin, VanNess Wu and Fan Wei, based on the novel of the same name by Xu Haofeng. The film is currently in post-production and scheduled for release on July 3, 2015. 

Columbia Pictures has a prestigious history in Chinese local language production including its highly successful collaboration with director Stephen Chow on the international action comedy hit, Kung Fu Hustle (2004), and Ang Lee's groundbreaking martial arts classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).

About Sony Pictures:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

About China Film Co., Ltd:
China Film Co., Ltd (CFC) is a large-scale, fully integrated Chinese film company. CFC's business is composed of four parts: film production, distribution, exhibition, cinema construction and management– encompassing all aspects of the film industry: production, distribution, marketing, cinema companies, cinema construction, equipment manufacture, equipment sales, equipment rental and film merchandising – among other areas.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Entertainment

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