World War II thriller “Air Strike” has been canceled after Chinese actress Fan Bingbing went missing amid with tax evasion charges.
According to the Associated Press, “Air Strike” director Xiao Feng posted on his Weibo miniblog on Wednesday that although he worked on the film for eight years, it was “time to let go.”
The thriller (also known as “Unbreakable Spirit” in China) that also stars Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody, was set to have an Oct. 26 release in both China and the United States.
Earlier this month, Fan Bingbing has been ordered to pay the equivalent of more than $100 million in taxes and fines. One of the most popular actresses in China, Fan hasn’t been seen in public or heard from since an early June visit to a children’s hospital in Tibet. Her absence prompted speculation that the Chinese government had quietly arrested her.
According to the AP, Chinese state media said Fan evaded taxes by using two separate contracts for “Air Strike.” Back in May, state tabloid Global Times said that she had a “yin-yang contract,” a term used to refer to when two contracts are signed with different salary amounts, with the smaller amount being reported on tax returns. In this case, Fan was said to have a public film contract for $1.5 million and a smaller one for $7.5 million. She denied it.
Over the past five years, Fan has risen to become one of the most successful stars in China’s rising film industry, earning major awards throughout Asia and lucrative luxury brand ad deals. She’s also taken a step into the world of Hollywood blockbusters with a minor role in “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Iron Man 3,” and the Chinese dub of “Despicable Me 3.” Before she disappeared, she had signed on to star in “355” with Penelope Cruz and Jessica Chastain.
TheWrap has reached out to producers Stephen J. Eads, Stephen Eckelberry, Kimberley Kates and Stan Wertlieb for comment. United Entertainment Partners, the Chinese distributor of the film, has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
10 Best Jabs at Bruce Willis in Comedy Central's Roast, From Demi Moore to Cybill Shepherd (Photos)
Whether it be jokes about his follically challenged head, his so-so music career or his aging-action-hero persona, Bruce Willis took it like a man when he became the latest target of a Comedy Central roast. His ex-wife picked on him, as did his former leading lady and even an NBA star. Here are the best jokes of the night... including a couple by the man of the hour himself.
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“Bruce Willis is what you get if you drain the white part of Dwayne Johnson.” -- "Looper" co-star and roast master Joseph Gordon-Levitt
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“I look at our marriage like 'The Sixth Sense.' You were dead the whole time.” -- ex-wife Demi Moore
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"Hollywood wouldn’t be Hollywood if they didn’t reward a man for aging into mediocrity." ... AND ... “On 'Moonlighting,' I played a former model, which I was, and Bruce played an asshole, which he is." -- "Moonlighting" co-star Cybill Shepherd
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“Bruce and I live in the same town of Bedford. He has a beautiful house and the interior design is amazing. He wanted everything inside to look mid-century modern, except his new wife.” -- Martha Stewart
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“This is a real personal moment for me, to be here roasting my dead cousin’s second-favorite action star. You had an amazing action film career until Jason Statham started balding.” -- Nikki Glaser
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"If you wanted to be humiliated, clearly we both know you could’ve just released another singing album.” -- Kevin Pollak
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“Comedy Central roasts only the best people. Bruce, Donald Trump, that guy from 'Baywatch.'” -- Dom Irrera
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“I can’t wait to see your next project, 'Die Hard 6: Natural Causes.'” -- Jeff Ross
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"You keep making these bomb movies. But guess what? So does Kim Jong Un. But at least Kim is smart enough not to release his." -- Dennis Rodman
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And, of course, Willis punched back: “Joseph played a younger me in 'Looper.' He couldn’t pull it off. There is one actor who successfully played me. It was Demi Moore.”
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“Cybill, it’s so great to be back on TV with you, honey, on another show starring me.” -- Bruce Willis
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”Die Hard“ superstar took it like a man when he became the latest target of jokes
Whether it be jokes about his follically challenged head, his so-so music career or his aging-action-hero persona, Bruce Willis took it like a man when he became the latest target of a Comedy Central roast. His ex-wife picked on him, as did his former leading lady and even an NBA star. Here are the best jokes of the night... including a couple by the man of the hour himself.