zhang-ziyi

‘Crouching Tiger’ star to try romantic comedy

HONG KONG — “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” star Zhang Ziyi is trying her hand at romantic comedy after a series of dramas.

In “Sophie’s Revenge,” the 30-year-old actress will play a comic book artist who plots to get her fiance back after losing him to an actress. Written and directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Eva Jin, the 50 million Chinese yuan ($7.3 million) Chinese-language film also stars Chinese actress Fan Bingbing as Sophie’s rival Joanna and South Korean actor So Ji-sub as Sophie’s fiance Jeff.

In response to written questions from The Associated Press, Zhang described “Sophie’s Revenge” as a fun-loving movie.

“We will follow Sophie’s journey in the movie, crying with her and laughing with her. I hope a story like this will resonate with everyone,” Zhang said.

“Sophie’s Revenge,” which will be released in China on Aug. 14 and in South Korea on Aug. 20, marks a change of pace for Zhang after four dramas. She played a Japanese escort in the 2005 Hollywood film “Memoirs of a Geisha,” then an empress in “The Banquet,” Chinese director Feng Xiaogang’s 2006 adaptation of “Hamlet.” Zhang next portrayed a friend of late Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang in Chen Kaige’s 2008 biopic “Forever Enthralled.” She also played a villain alongside Dennis Quaid in the 2009 American-Canadian crime thriller “Horsemen.”

Zhang’s new film, a South Korean-Chinese co-production, is also her debut as a producer. She told the AP that director Jin approached her with her script and she secured funding for the project.

“I really learned many more things serving as the producer. I now have a better understanding of the work flow of a movie,” she said.

Zhang made her film debut in famed Zhang Yimou’s heartwarming 1999 love story “The Road Home,” but her career took off when Oscar-winning director Ang Lee cast her in his 2000 kung fu hit “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

With 10 years of acting and a producer credit to her name, will directing be next?

“It’s so tough! You can only become a director when you’re physically and mentally ready. Managing the situation on the set down to the smallest detail is really quite something,” Zhang said.