By | Published May 15, 2009

CONFUCIUS (2010)

After a decade of struggling to find decent work in Hollywood capped by a lead role in the poorly received Hollywood fantasy actioner DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION, Chow Yun-fat has finally returned to Chinese filmmaking to star in CONFUCIUS, a controversial biopic of one of China’s greatest thinkers. Chief reasons for controversy include the casting of the Cantonese-speaking Chow in the Mandarin-language, mainland Chinese production and the intention of director Hu Mei to portray the philosopher as a warrior (see related article.

New production images featuring a bearded Chow looking appropriately scholarly bare nary a trace of the “kung fu master” depiction that Pu Cunxi, a mainland TV actor first offered the role reportedly cited as reason for turning the role down. But hold on. Check out the following conceptual art for CONFUCIUS that looks like something taken out of a Ma Wing-shing wuxia comic.

Concept art for CONFUCIUS (2010). Concept art for CONFUCIUS (2010).

Additional concept art that doesn’t look quite so action-oriented can be found at Sina.

Source: Sina via Twitch Film

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  • http://watchkungfu.com Kung Fu Movies Rock!

    Confucius is often portrayed as the wizened Chinese sage, but its important to remember in dynasty-era Chinese culture, administrators and bureaucrats were also required to lead in times of war. Many appointments within the government were rewarded as a result of military conquest. Confucius would have mostly likely been a valued military tactician and risen through the ranks to become a trusted adviser to the emperor. So perhaps, there is some historical basis for a bad azz, Kung Fu fighting, sword swinging, high kinking, Confucius! (I know I’m stretching here…)

  • Anonymous

    The Concept Art you have here is for Confucious’s student Zi-lu, who also served Confucious as his chauffeur and bodyguard, and Yang-hu, an violent nemesis of Confucious.

    I, for one, am quite disappointed that they haven’t shown Confucious with a sword– it should be an indispensable accessory for any self-respecting noblemen when they travel in those times.

  • http://ZVkCQUdfvthKVtE Anton

    Cool!