Several years in the making, Legendary Pictures has finally enlisted its confirmed official cast for the upcoming China epic, The Great Wall. Actor Matt Damon is the A-list choice to lead the prominent cast for the new film which also includes popular film star, actor Andy Lau who just recently completed his latest role in the upcoming Sammo Hung actioner, The Bodyguard.
House Of Flying Daggers and Hero helmer Zhang Yimou is taking on directorial duties for this one which is set to be a major undertaking as the biggest production in China ever shot for global distribution. The premise alone reads as familar ground for Legendary considering the monster thrillers it’s become known for in recent years like Pacific Rim and the upcoming Skull Island, so this one is bound to leave mark as another truly epic film worth eyeing next year.
Read the news below!
Legendary Pictures announced today the principal cast for their upcoming The Great Wall, set to be the largest film ever shot entirely in China for global distribution. Academy Award winner Matt Damon (The Monuments Men, Interstellar), Pedro Pascal (“Game of Thrones,” “Narcos”) and Willem Dafoe (John Wick, The Grand Budapest Hotel) will star alongside Chinese actors Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs, House of Flying Daggers), Jing Tian (New Police Story, Special ID), Zhang Hanyu (Taking Tiger Mountain, The Assembly), Eddie Peng (Fleet of Time, Rise of the Legend), Lu Han (Miss Granny), Lin Gengxin (Taking Tiger Mountain, Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon), Zheng Kai (Fleet of Time, The Running Man), Chen Xuedong (Tiny Times 3), Huang Xuan (The Golden Era, Blind Massage), and, in his feature film debut, pop star Wang Junkai. Additionally, director Zhang Yimou will carry on his long-standing tradition of utilizing new faces in his films. Newcomers Yu Xintian and Liu Qiong will play supporting roles in the film.
Yimou is directing the story of an elite force making a last stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure. A Legendary Entertainment and Atlas Entertainment Production, the film will be produced by Thomas Tull, Charles Roven, Jon Jashni, and Peter Loehr. Jillian Share, Alex Gartner, Bennett Walsh, La Peikang and Zhang Zhao will executive produce with Er Yong, Alex Hedlund and Eric Hedayat co-producing. Production is set to begin in China at the end of March 2015.
An official Chinese co-production, Legendary is partnered with Universal Pictures, China Film Co., Ltd and Le Vision Pictures. Le Vision Pictures and China Film Co., Ltd will distribute the film in China.
The Great Wall will be globally released in 3D by Universal Pictures on Friday, November 23, 2016, with the Chinese market opening during the 2016 holiday season.
