Bullets autumn release shot down

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Distribution News

Chinese director Jiang Wen's (姜文) much anticipated Let The Bullets Fly (讓子彈飛) will not be ready for release in the early autumn. Instead it will now be distributed in the end of year season.

The $18 million action drama had been targeting completion in time to screen at the Venice festival in early September and a release at or just before China's 1 October National Day holiday.

"It is highly unlikely that will happen," said a spokesman for Emperor Motion Pictures (英皇電影), which is backing the film. "There is a lot of post-production to be done and it has to be done properly."

The film is a stylish clash between Chow Yun-fat (周潤發) as a gangster in the early days of the Chinese Republic and Ge You (葛優) as the mayor of a small town.

The absence of Bullets from the autumn schedule will potentially free up more screen space for Donnie Yen (甄子丹) and Shu Qi (舒淇) starrer The Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (精武風雲 陳真), directed by Andrew Lau (劉偉強), which has also set 1 October as its mainland Chinese release date, and for Tsui Hark's (徐克) Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (狄仁杰之通天帝國).

The December to Chinese New year period, however, looks no less crowded for Bullets.

Emperor played down Chinese press reports of a dates shift for its upcoming Triple Tap (鎗王之王) directed by Derek Yee (爾冬陞) caused by a clash with Jet Li (李連杰) vehicle Ocean Heaven (海洋天堂) on 18 June. "The two films are aimed at completely different audiences, one is a drama about autism, the other is a high-concept action film," said Emperor. Friday 1 July looks the most likely date for Triple Tap.

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