By | Published May 14, 2009

The cast of BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009).

Poster art for BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009).

Fresh promotional art and pics of Donnie Yen with a shaved head have surfaced from director Teddy Chen’s forthcoming period martial arts movie BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. Produced by Cinema Popular and We Pictures with action choreography by Tung Wei, the $23 million film began shooting last month and will continue through June.

The story centers on efforts of a group of kung fu experts to protect Dr. Sun Yat-sen as he leads a revolution against the Qing Dynasty.

The poster art highlights the film’s ensemble cast, which is highlighted by Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Nicholas Tse. Vietnamese-American mixed martial arts champion Cung Le also recently joined the cast and is featured in some of the promo art.

Additional photos reveal that Tse and Yen have shaved their heads to match the traditional Qing-era queue, or pony tail haircut that was required for all men to have.

An English tagline on the poster states, “5 hours, 13 blocks, to save a nation’s future, they must protect one man from its past.” Pictures of each cast member are shown in what could be viewed as a throwback to the Shaw Brothers era when movie posters to historical epics featuring ensemble casts frequently displayed each of the principle stars.

Donnie Yen in BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009). Donnie Yen in BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009). Donnie Yen in BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009). Nicholas Tse in BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009).

Sources: CriEnglish.com, DonnieYen.us, Screen Daily

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

    This film is going to be a hoot! Wall to wall action. I’m glad Donnie Yen is in this one. This is on my “must see” list.

  • Monk Sante

    Looks promising, hope this one doesn’t disappoint.

  • Milkyway

    Peter Chan is enough to assure that this will be quite the epic movie it looks to be of this year.

    Good seeing Donnie do more big-scale productions now, he deserves it.

  • Manuel

    The concubine and the diva look like they need to switch places, haha

  • Stretch

    Yes sounds wicked……But whats the info on Severn Swords 2?……are they going to make part 2

  • http://www.wirthconsulting.org Mo Kraak

    Isthmus be my lucky day! Yet another another film to put on my “must see” list and eagerly look forward to. A “real” Kung Fu movie with a historical context! Oh baby!

    Like Monk Sante, I also hope that it doesn’t disappoint.

    BTW, this is not a Kung Fu/Action/Martial Arts film, but has anybody seen the Chinese film “THE KING OF MASKS?” If you can do subtitles and drama, this is one great film that is well worth watching. Be forewarned that unless you are subhuman, it WILL bring tears to a grown man’s eyes. It has some sweet Peking Opera background and scenes in it, if that will make you feel better about watching it. Speaking of Peking Opera, there’s nothing better than PEKING OPERA BLUES and no woman more alluring than Cherie Chung.

  • http://www.myspace.com/huewilly Huewilly

    Any film that depicts kung fu experts, fictional or historical – I’m in!

    On the the must see list!