“Lady Generals of the Yang Family” Remake Fever

Internationally, Mu lan is perhaps the more well known lady warrior from China, but did you know if there are other legendary women warriors who’s come from different periods of China’s history and names also have been immortalized as heroines of the land? So, let me now introduce the Lady Warriors/Generals of Yang Family. The heroic tale "The Lady Generals of the Yang Family" set during the Song Dynasty in China, centering around the Yang family, a clan who was extremely loyal to the Emperor, but was constantly under harassment by corrupt government officials (who seemed to be a permanent fixture of Chinese dynasties). As the men from the respected, militaristic Yang family dwindled, their widows put down their grief and bravely put on the armor to defend their homeland. The story has been adapted into numerous novels, plays, television series and movies. And these adaptations of the heroic legend likely will hit its peak next year when there will be a clash of “Lady Generals of Yang Family” titles at the big screen since there are four remakes currently in production. The productions also seem an attempt to repeat the 1972s all stars cast blockbuster by Shaw Brothers "14 Amazons." In terms of star power, the original 70s version definitely had lot of firepower since it's combined 14 most popular Chinese female superstars of its time plus the top actors, being one of the top domestic box office earners of the year, and winning multiple awards for acting and directing. Below are three of the on production remake versions.


The first one is Director Ronnie Yu’s version that will bring together top Asian actresses Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun, Tang Wei and Michelle Yeoh. While Gong, Zhang, Zhou and Tang's roles have been fixed but Yeoh's role remains a mystery. It will be Yu's first Mandarin film since his 2006 collaboration with Jet Li in "Fearless" with Oscar-winning Japanese costume designer, Emi Wada, has also been roped in to create the costumes for the film. The story reportedly will depart significantly from the series of novels it is based on and does not focus too much on the themes of loyalty. Instead, it will focus on the heroism of the titular Lady Generals. Interestingly, this is the first time Gong, who turns 45 this year, has agreed to play a character much older than her actual age. The film will also mark the second time she is working alongside Yeoh and Zhang after 2005's "Memoirs of a Geisha".

2nd version of 2011 release of the “Lady Generals of Yang Family” remake will start filming next month. Directed by Frankie Chan and executively produced by Jackie Chan, Cecilia Cheung is set to continue her comeback as the leading cast along with Richie Ren, Zheng Pei Pei (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and Liu Xiao Qing. Frankie Chan announces that veteran martial arts actress Zheng Pei Pei is playing Lady She, Liu Xiao Qing is playing Princess Chai, while Cecilia Cheung, who reportedly pockets 10 to 15m yuan, plays Mu Gui Ting, "Mu Fui Ying resembles her character very much, Mu Gui Ying was a brigand, after marrying Yang Zong Bao (Richie Ren), becoming part of the Yang Family, she fulfils her duty as a wife, and raises her son. Be it strength or beauty, they must be handled just right.

Frankie Chan also reveals that it took him as long as 10 years to prepare the script, which is based on 12 Widows' Expedition to the West from Yang Family Generals, and the cast were painstakingly picked. The budget is 100m yuan, and apart from building the Asia's biggest soundstage in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, it will recreate battlefields on a 1:1 scale. And also he has been training the cast, made up of a number of newcomers, like Liu Dong, to prepare for this film. (Source: Wu-Jing)


Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing (Sacrifice), who was originally casted for Frankie Chan version, had secretly signed with another company to film another version of this famous legend, along with Sammo Hung and Barbie Hsu (Reign of Assassins). And this will be the 3rd remake film version.