Columbia Pictures is boarding the Bullets Trilogy, coming on to co-produce Jiang Wen’s 3D feature “Gone With the Bullets,” the studio announced Monday.
Based on a true story, “Gone With the Bullets” is set in 1920s Shanghai and follows Ma Zouri (Jiang Wen) and Xiang Feitian (Ge You) as they establish a beauty pageant called the “Flowers Competition.” All of the city’s elite attend this gala event, but when Wanyan Ying unexpectedly wins, it sets into motion a series of tragic events that change their destinies.
“Gone With the Bullets” is the second film in the Bullets Trilogy that began with the 2010 movie “Let The Bullets Fly” (“Rang zidan fei”), which Jiang directed. The first feature was one of the highest grossing domestic Chinese releases in recent years, grossing over $140 million at the worldwide box office.
Jiang and Ma Ke are producing “Gone With the Bullets” through their Buyilehu banner, which will distribute the movie in China. Sony Pictures Releasing International will handle foreign distribution and Pixomondo (“Hugo”) is handling the visual effects.
Production started in early October on location in Beijing at the China Film Group studio in Huairou,. The film will also shoot in Shanghai, Fujian and Inner Mongolia as well.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Jiang Wen on this film. As both an actor and a filmmaker, Jiang is well respected in China and around the world, and we think audiences will respond to ‘Gone with the Bullets’ just as strongly as they did to ‘Let the Bullets Fly,’” said Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures.
“Gone With the Bullets” is expected to be released in December 2014.
