Columbia Pictures Teams Up With Jiang Wen And Ma Ke's Buyilehu For "Gone With The Bullets"

CULVER CITY, Calif. and BEIJING, Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Pictures announced principal photography has commenced on Jiang Wen's 3D feature film "Gone With The Bullets," through his production company with Ma Ke, Buyilehu. This is the highly anticipated second film in the Bullets Trilogy that began with the 2010 hit feature "Let The Bullets Fly" ("Rang zidan fei"), which Jiang directed. The first feature was one of the highest grossing domestic Chinese releases in recent years, grossing over US$140 million at the worldwide box office, including RMB 720m in China. "Gone with the Bullets" will be distributed in China by Buyilehu, and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI). 

"Gone with the Bullets" started production on October 2, 2013 on location in Beijing at the China Film Group studio in Huairou, and will film in Shanghai, Fujian and Inner Mongolia as well. Jiang will star in the film opposite Ge You ("Personal Tailor," "Sacrifice"), Zhou Yun ("Let The Bullets Fly," "Bodyguard and Assassins"), Shu Qi ("China Zodiac," "Love"), and Wen Zhang ("Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons"). Keith Young is the choreographer, and Pixomondo ("Hugo") is handling the visual effects. 

"Gone with the Bullets," set in 1920s Shanghai, is based on a true story. Ma Zouri (Jiang Wen) and Xiang Feitian (Ge You) establish a notorious beauty pageant called the "Flowers Competition." All of the city's elite attend this gala event, but when Wanyan Ying unexpectedly wins, it sets into motion a series of tragic events that change their destinies.

Internationally acclaimed director Jiang Wen's previous feature "Devils on the Doorstep" ("Guizi lai le") was honored with the Grand Prize at the 2000 Cannes International Film Festival and was also nominated for the Palme D'Or.  Jiang is also familiar to international audiences for his acting role in Zhang Yimou's 1987 feature "Red Sorghum."  Jiang's previous directorial credits include a segment in "New York, I Love You," as well as the films "The Sun Also Rises" ("Tai yang zhao chang sheng qi") and "In The Heat Of The Sun" ("Yangguang Canlan de Rizi").

Commenting on the local language production, Doug Belgrad, President of Columbia Pictures said, "We're thrilled to be partnering with Jiang Wen on this film.  As both an actor and a filmmaker, Jiang is well respected in China and around the world, and we think audiences will respond to 'Gone with the Bullets' just as strongly as they did to 'Let the Bullets Fly.'"

The film is expected to be released in December 2014.

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.

Beijing Buyilehu Film and Culture Co., Limited is an independent film company, whose business focuses on script development, film production, distribution and marketing. The team, led by director Jiang Wen, has made several great films, such as "The Sun Also Rises" and "Let The Bullets Fly."

SOURCE Sony Pictures Entertainment