The Red Circle update
posted by Jas, 04/15/08
Mithriel reports that Hong Kong's Apple Daily has posted an update on The Red Circle saying that Chow Yun Fatt and Liam Neeson might star with Orlando in the film. Director Johnny To told reporters that filming will start in June and will take place in Macau and Hong Kong. Here's a rough translation of the article from Telcontar Rulz

At first, Chow was undecided, and Orlando had to personally phone him to persuade him. During the rewrite of the script, To not only employed American script writers, but also invited Wei Jia Hui (Chinese screenwriter?) to help. Orlando loved the script when he read it, and very quickly signed on. Chow, because of a scheduling clash, was a bit unsure about this, but while he was in Mexico filming Dragonball Z, Orlando phoned Mrs. Chow to ask her to help him persuade Chow to take part in The Red Circle, and To also helped to persuade him. Due to their sincerity, Chow finally agreed.

Yesterday, To told reporters that "filming will commence in June. Most outdoor scenes will take place in Macau. Only one-third will take place in Hong Kong. Concerning the actors, only Orlando's participation has been confirmed. The others have not yet signed contracts. After the film passes through producers next week, the cast will be confirmed. I really hope that Chow Yun Fat can take part in this because it's a gun-wielding movie, and his best type of movie. Also, he and Orlando have already worked together on Pirates of the Caribbean. I really hope they can work together again." Full translation.

Orlando not doing An Education
posted by Jas, 03/16/08
Lori has confirmation that Orlando has dropped out of "An Education" due to a scheduling conflict, the report about him starring in Johnny To's "The Red Circle" is true, production has begun and will be shot in Hong Kong. The film is a remake of the 1970 French movie "Le Cercle Rouge". Some info on Johnny To and his works here, my favourite is of course "All About Ah Long" starring big brother Chow Yun Fat.

Orlando Bloom gives his bit-part the chop
posted by Jas, 03/14/08
Not sure if this is true or not but Daily Mail reports that Orlando has given up his role in An Education to star in Johnny To's movie The Red Circle. The rumour about this Hong Kong kung-fu flick has been around for quite some time but there hasn't been any confirmation or official press release about it and Angie wrote to the Event manager of the Cafe de Paris and was told that Orlando has pulled out of An Education production. I'll post an update once I have more info.

Orlando Bloom is doing full on martial arts training for a Hong Kong kung-fu movie. It means Bloom has had to drop out of the small role he was going to take in An Education, which has just started production, with Carey Mulligan playing a teenager in Sixties London who comes under the spell of a charismatic - and totally unsuitable - older man played by Peter Sarsgaard, who introduces the girl to a high-living lifestyle. Bloom was to have played a friend of Sarsgaard's character. Instead, the fastrising Dominic Cooper will play Bloom's role.

Mr Cooper will be seen this year in the screen version of the hit musical Mamma Mia! (still in the West End), and opposite Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes and Hayley Atwell in The Duchess. Meanwhile, Bloom is limbering up and getting fit to be in Johnny To's movie The Red Circle, which will film in Hong Kong. By the way, An Education is based on a memoir Lynn Barber wrote for Granta - it was adapted for the movies by Nick Hornby.

HK director Johnnie To, Orlando Bloom discuss possible collaboration, assistant says
posted by Jas, 12/13/07
AP reports that Orlando is in talks with Hong Kong director Johnnie To for a possible collaboration.

Famed Hong Kong director Johnnie To met with Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom recently to discuss a possible collaboration, To's assistant said Thursday. The assistant, Ding Yuin-shan, said the British actor arrived in Hong Kong Tuesday and left Thursday. Bloom met with To several times during his stay and the two discussed shooting a movie together, Ding said, declining to identify any specific projects. "They hope they can work on a project together", Ding said.

Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily Thursday ran a photo of the two together, which the newspaper said was taken when To accompanied Bloom back to his hotel. Publicists for Bloom didn't immediately respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press seeking the actor's comment on the meetings with To. To is known for his stylish gangster thrillers. His credits include Election, Election 2, Exiled and Mad Detective, which was shortlisted for the top Golden Lion Prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year. Bloom's credits include the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

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