Zhang taking 'Geisha' turn; Watanabe set
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Zhang Ziyi, who co-starred in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," is in final negotiations to play the title character in the film adaptation of "Memoirs of a Geisha," while the Oscar-nominated Ken Watanabe has signed on to play the male lead.
Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, Youki Kudoh and Koji Yakusho also are in final negotiations to join the cast of the Columbia Pictures/DreamWorks/Spyglass Entertainment feature, which Rob Marshall is directing.
Watanabe, who received an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actor for "The Last Samurai," will portray the Chairman, a high-powered executive with whom the young geisha, Sayuri, falls in love.
The Chinese-born Zhang will play Sayuri, the young orphan from a remote fishing village whose life changes when she is sent to the city to learn the ways of the geisha.
Yeoh would portray Mameha, the experienced geisha who becomes Sayuri's mentor, while Gong is wanted for the role of Sayuri's treacherous rival Hatsumomo.
Based on Arthur Golden's best-selling novel, the film is scheduled to begin production next month in Los Angeles and Japan. "Geisha" was adapted by Ron Bass, Akiva Goldsman and Robin Swicord. The producers are Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher of Red Wagon and Steven Spielberg. Spyglass' Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber are executive producers.
"We could not be more excited about the extraordinary cast that we have in place for 'Memoirs of a Geisha,' " Marshall said. "We are adapting a beloved piece of literature that has become a worldwide sensation, which made it important to me to assemble a cast with a prestigious international profile. I cannot wait to begin production this fall."
Added Wick and Fisher: "We are thrilled to be using this beautiful piece of literature as an opportunity to bring together some of the greatest actors in the world and certainly the most distinguished team of Asian actors ever assembled for an American movie."
Quote from: MacGuffinAdded Wick and Fisher: "We are thrilled to be using this beautiful piece of literature as an opportunity to bring together some of the greatest actors in the world and certainly the most distinguished team of Asian actors ever assembled for an American movie."
So, with that being said, I'm assuming this is going to be an English-speaking film. Or is it just American financed?
P.S. Zhang Ziyi can't speak a word of English.
I thought this was a Steven Spielberg project. Hmm. I'm out of the loop.
Spielberg gave up on it a while ago. Spike Jonze was rumored to be attached, but he passed on it as well. Rob Marshall came onboard last year.
It'd be nice if it wasn't done in English, but I doubt Dreamworks is feeling that risky. It could be a good movie, maybe -- but with the double whammy of Ron Bass and Akiva Goldsman on screenplay duties, I wouldn't expect the novel (which I don't hold in very high regard) to be improved upon much.
i know, spielberg was going to direct it, but one day he realised that he wasn't an asian. blimey!
They should get Sophia Coppola to do it.
Quote from: MyxomatosisThey should get Sophia Coppola to do it.
and when that doesn't work, try sofia..
Well she can't. Sofia's currently doing another movie with... Kirsten Dunst, I believe.
Uh oh. Take it away, Pubrick.
Yune moving from snakes to 'Memoirs'
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Karl Yune, one of the stars of "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid," is joining the cast of "Memoirs of a Geisha," which includes Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and Ken Watanabe. Yune will play Koichi, the love interest to Geisha Hatsumomo, Gong's character. Rob Marshall is directing from a screenplay by Ron Bass, Akiva Goldsman and Robin Swicord. Columbia Pictures/DreamWorks and SpyGlass Entertainment are producing. Yune will next be seen in Cinamour Entertainment's "Forbidden Warrior."
YEAH! I know that cat! He's my friend! He's also Rick Yune's (from Fast and the Furious) bitter older brother who thinks he's a better actor and better looking of the family. He's cool.
From Twitchfilm.com:
Toei Withdrawing Support For Memoirs of a Geisha?
According to Monkey Peaches Japan's Toei Studios is considering withdrawing its support of the Speilberg produced Memoirs of a Geisha. Upset with the story's portrayal of geisha culture and the fact that the Asian part of the cast is almost entirely Chinese instead of Japanese the studio is contemplating pulling their support and refusing to lease sets to the production.
They've got a good point ... much as I like Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li it doesn't really make a lot of sense to cast them as the female leads in a Japan-based film when there are stacks of talented young Japanese actresses available who, you know, can actually speak the language. I've heard it said more than once that the casting of this film betrays a certain form of racism - equating all Asian cultures and assuming that westerners simply won't know or won't care about the differences - and, though I don't particularly think that's what's going on here, Toei evidently does and I can't really blame them.
you have a point and I somewhat agree with it (though my Korean friend is in the film), but at the same time, wouldn't all the films that take place in the Roman times be considered "racist?"
Quote from: petebut at the same time, wouldn't all the films that take place in the Roman times be considered "racist?"
no because those romans don't exist anymore. that race got raped to shit by everyone. italians are no more roman than, i dunno, napoleon.
japanese are still pure to their ancestry sumwhat, compared to assraped romans. (and i can call them that cos none of them exist)
okay so it's as racist as amadeus or amistad?
Quote from: peteokay so it's as racist as amadeus or amistad?
what is?
ancient romans films - not racist at all.
this geisha thing - who cares.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fus.movies1.yimg.com%2Fmovies.yahoo.com%2Fimages%2Fhv%2Fphoto%2Fmovie_pix%2Fcolumbia_pictures%2Fmemoirs_of_a_geisha%2Fziyi_zhang%2Fmemoirsofageisha_teaser.jpg&hash=b6ac5bb24897ada4f8255f3cc41d1c7cccad26c8)(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fus.movies1.yimg.com%2Fmovies.yahoo.com%2Fimages%2Fhv%2Fphoto%2Fmovie_pix%2Fcolumbia_pictures%2Fmemoirs_of_a_geisha%2F_group_photos%2Fken_watanabe1.jpg&hash=f3964071c8aca630a4b0da4089ee7bdc69fcb446)
Trailer here. (http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1380096&sdm=web&qtw=480&qth=300)
Release Date: December 9th, 2005 (wide)
Cast: Ziyi Zhang (Sayuri), Ken Watanabe (The Chairman), Gong Li (Geisha Hatsumomo), Michelle Yeoh (Mameha), Yuki Kudo (Pumpkin), Koji Yakusho (Nobu), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Baron), Karl Yune (Koichi), Tsai Chin (Auntie), Zoe Weizenbaum (Young Pumpkin), Suzuka Ohgo (Chiyo), Paul Adelstein (Lt. Hutchins)
Director: Rob Marshall (Chicago)
Screenwriter: Robin Swicord (Little Women, Shag, The Perez Family; cowriter of Practical Magic, Matilda)
Based Upon: The novel of the same title by Arthur Golden.
Premise: This is the story of Nitta Sayuri, sold to a geisha house at the age of 9, the training she goes through to become a geisha, and the life she leads as one.
wow, such TIRED images. This movie is like the last samurai without fighting, with like the tiredest images that packed the trailer. but my buddy Karl Yune is in it, so everyone should go just to check him out 'cause he's a good guy who's worked very hard with very little to show. poor guy.
I love Chinese people and I love it that they're starring in Hollywood movies, 'cause they're my people or whatever, but seriously, a movie about geishas with only Chinese actresses? I mean, yeah Zhang Ziyi's English is limited, but at least COACH a Japanese accent out of her? I didn't realize how furious Toei must be (several posts up) until I saw this trailer. But I don't think I care about this movie enough to actually get angry at it. I still wouldn't call it racist, just white.
It looks about as bad as the book. Which is bad. Actually, it might be a little worse. The range of accents is just sort of laughable.
Quote from: petewow, such TIRED images. This movie is like the last samurai without fighting, with like the tiredest images that packed the trailer. but my buddy Karl Yune is in it, so everyone should go just to check him out 'cause he's a good guy who's worked very hard with very little to show. poor guy.
I love Chinese people and I love it that they're starring in Hollywood movies, 'cause they're my people or whatever, but seriously, a movie about geishas with only Chinese actresses? I mean, yeah Zhang Ziyi's English is limited, but at least COACH a Japanese accent out of her? I didn't realize how furious Toei must be (several posts up) until I saw this trailer. But I don't think I care about this movie enough to actually get angry at it. I still wouldn't call it racist, just white.
"Chinese, Japanese, whatever."
-some studio exec
i think this looks pretty cool actaully :oops:
i hated chicago but i thought it was directed well...if that makes sense.