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This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters. |
| Detective Dee | |
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 Film logo |
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| Traditional | 通天帝國 |
| Simplified | 通天帝国 |
| Directed by | Tsui Hark |
| Produced by | Tsui Hark Nansun Shi Peggy Lee |
| Written by | Chen Kuofu |
| Starring | Andy Lau Carina Lau Li Bingbing Tony Leung Ka-Fai Lau Ching-Wan |
| Studio | Film Workshop |
| Distributed by | Huayi Brothers |
| Release date(s) | 1 October 2010 (Hong Kong) 2010 (China) |
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin |
| Budget | $13 million |
Detective Dee, also known as Detective Dee and the Kingdom of the Phantom Flame, is an upcoming 2010 epic martial arts mystery film that is a fictional account of Di Renjie, one of the most celebrated officials of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. A co-production between China and Hong Kong, the film was directed by Tsui Hark from a screenplay written by Chen Kuofu. The film stars Andy Lau in the lead role, and features art direction and fight choreography by Sammo Hung. The film's supporting cast includes Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Lau Ching-Wan and Tony Leung Ka-Fai. Principal photography for Detective Dee began in May 2009; the film was shot at Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang, China. Detective Dee is currently in post-production and scheduled for a National Day 2010 theatrical release in Hong Kong.
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On 5 January 2009, The Hollywood Reporter released information on the film with a brief plot synopsis: [1]
| “ | When the mysterious deaths of a series of loyal subjects threaten to delay the 690 A.D. inauguration of Empress Wu Zetian, China's only female leader, she summons the infamous Detective Dee back from an exile into which she cast him eight years earlier. | ” |
Detective Dee is a co-production between Chinese distributor Huayi Brothers, and Tsui Hark's own production company, Film Workshop. Tsui will direct the film as well as co-produce the film alongside his wife, Nansun Shi. The screenplay was written by Chen Kuofu, the Chinese screenwriter of the 2008 films Forever Enthralled and If You Are the One. Fight choreography and art direction for the film will be handled by Sammo Hung.
Prior to filming Detective Dee, Tsui had spent years doing research on stories concerning Tang Dynasty official Di Renjie. Chen Kuofu first approached Tsui with a screenplay based on the life of Di Renjie. [2]
Tsui first announced production plans in 2008, while promoting his previous film All About Women at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival. At the time, Tsui had pondered on whether to make Detective Dee or remake the 1966 film Dragon Gate Inn. [3]
For the lead role as Di Renjie, Tsui originally had Tony Leung Ka-Fai, along with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in mind. Tsui commented on choosing an actor to play Di Renjie: "Who said that Di Ren Jie must be plump and old? He could also be very handsome. Wits and looks can balance one another." [4] On 5 January 2009, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Andy Lau would star in the lead role. [1] On 29 April 2009, it was announced that Carina Lau, Li Bingbing, Lau Ching-Wan and Tony Leung Ka-Fai would appear in supporting roles.
"He was someone very special, one possessing nerdiness, good deportment and great foresight. His mentality and philosophies were very different from Sherlock Holmes or James Bond. He can dwell forever in my heart, so I have a very romantic view on him, and must also be immaculate."
- Director Tsui Hark on Di Renjie. [7]
Principal photography for Detective Dee began in May 2009, with a budget of $13 million; [2] [1] the film was shot in Zhejiang, China at Hengdian World Studios, which is one of the largest film studios in the world. [8] Detective Dee has been described as one of Tsui's most personal films to date. Over the past few weeks since production began, Tsui would reportedly work day and night on the set, barely getting enough sleep. [9] Crew members reportedly wore medical masks due to an outbreak of Influenza A.
Sammo Hung served as an art director for the film and his stunt team built eight platforms (12 meters tall) in the cave for three days of wire work. The record was over 70 wires for one scene. [6] One of the sculptures was a 80 metre bust of Empress Wu Zetian, a key element of the film that cost $12 million to design and decorate. During production, reporters were invited to enter the bust's interior, which included a 12 meter tall circular platform. Outside the platform hung red and white drapes that were full of scriptures. [10]
Detective Dee's martial arts sequences will be choreographed by Sammo Hung, who worked extensively alongside actors Andy Lau and Li Bingbing. Tsui choose Hung as a choreographer, feeling that his work had shades of Bruce Lee. Of the fight sequences for the film, Tsui commented that they would be similar to that of Ip Man, as they would aim for realism with actual punches and kicks. This would prove difficult for actors who had no martial arts experience. [11] Of the two actors, Li Bingbing had no experience in martial arts, and her role required that she use various weapons in the film such as a whip and a sword. [10]
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