Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

Taglines: The past returns with a vengeance.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is an American-Chinese martial arts film directed by Yuen Woo-ping and written by John Fusco, based on the novel Iron Knight, Silver Vase by Du Lu Wang. It is also a sequel to the 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film stars Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum, Jr., Jason Scott Lee, Roger Yuan, Eugenia Yuan, JuJu Chan, Chris Pang, Shuya Chang and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. The film is to be released in China on February 8, 2016 and in the United States on February 26, 2016.

In January 2013, it was reported that a sequel to the movie would begin shooting in May, with Harvey Weinstein producing. Fight choreography would be by Yuen Woo Ping, The script by John Fusco would be based on the fifth and final book of the Crane-Iron Series, Iron Knight, Silver Vase. On March 18, 2013, actor Donnie Yen confirmed rumors that he had been offered a role in the new film. Around the same time, there were also conflicting reports on whether Michelle Yeoh had been asked to reprise her role of Yu Shu Lien.

On May 16, 2013, it was officially announced that the sequel had been given the green light. Initially titled Iron Knight, Silver Vase (the same title as its source material), the film was now re-titled Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – The Green Legend. Donnie Yen was confirmed to star as Silent Wolf while Michelle Yeoh was confirmed to be reprising her role as Yu Shu Lien.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

On August 20, 2013, it was reported that Zhang Ziyi was in talks to reprise her role as Jen Yu, but Zhang’s agent Ji Lingling told the media that that was not true and stated, “Zhang would reprise her role only if the director was Ang Lee”.

On June 10, 2014, it was announced that Nicholas Tse was offered the role of “Iron Knight” (the son of Jen Yu and Lo), while Xia Zitong was confirmed to star as “Silver Vase”. On June 16, 2014, it was announced that the film would be co-produced by Pegasus Media, China Film Group Corporation, and The Weinstein Company, with a release date in 2016. On July 30, 2014, actor Harry Shum, Jr. was cast in the role of Tie-Fang.

While it was initially announced that production on the film would begin in June 2014 with location shooting in New Zealand and China, shooting was later bumped to August 2014. In September 2014, Variety reported that principal photography was underway in New Zealand.

The leaked order from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television (SAPPRFT) Department of Film Management revealed the film’s production was approved with amendments of replacing White Lotus Society with fictitious martial arts faction, downplaying “Oppose the Qing, Restore the Ming” content, control the amount of gore and violence, Yu Xiulian’s line “A superior army breaks its enemy without fighting,” should be corrected to “The army which breaks its enemy without fighting is the superior one.”

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Poster

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

Directed by: Woo-Ping Yuen
Starring: Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum Jr, Jason Scott Lee, Eugenia Yuan, Juju Chan, Chris Pang, Shuya Chang, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Veronica Ngo
Screenplay by: John Fusco
Cinematography by: Newton Thomas Sigel
Film Editing by: Jeff Betancourt
Costume Design by: Ngila Dickson
Set Decoration by: Daniel Birt
Art Direction by: Nick Bassett, Nick Connor, Jill Cormack, Sherrie Dai
Music by: Carlo Siliotto
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for martial arts violence and brief partial nudity.
Studio: The Weinstein Company
Release Date: February 26, 2016

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