Described as as "Asian version of Hamlet," Feng Xiaogang‘s "Banquet" begins shooting this month in Beijing, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, at a cost of $20 million … its already $5mill over-budget!
"Chinese star Zhang Ziyi begins shooting "Banquet" this month which, with a cost of $20 million, is already $5 million over budget, a spokeswoman for the film’s Beijing-based production company Huayi Brothers said Friday. One of China’s leading independent film producers — it made the Hong Kong hit "Kung Fu Hustle" with Sony Pictures Entertainment — HB is co-producing "Banquet," billed as an "Asian version of Hamlet," with Hong Kong’s Media Asia.
The film has no distribution guarantor bonding the project. Helmed by the popular Feng Xiaogang, "Banquet" will be designed by Oscar-winning art director Tim Yip ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), and scored by Tan Dun, who also worked on "Crouching Tiger.""
