After a lengthy battle over rights to the books, this sequel-that-isn`t-quite-a-sequel will be based on the same source material as Lee`s film, taking its story from Silver Vase, Iron Knight, the fifth book in Wang Du Lu`s Crane-Iron Pentalogy. (Crouching Tiger was based on the fourth book.) This particular story continues to revolve around Yeoh`s character Yu Shu Lien, while introducing a new generation of star-crossed lovers and a new set of antagonists.
Yu is currently in talks to direct – which is both promising and worrying. A quick look at the veteran director`s filmography makes it clear that, if he signs on, he`ll be returning to a genre he knows well. He directed the Bride With White Hair franchise, after all, and has produced countless other martial arts epics. Unfortunately, the more recent films in his canon include Bride Of Chucky and Freddy Vs. Jason. Maybe we`ll get to see Yu Shu Lien stalked by creepy serial-killer dolls and terrible menacing ghosts in the sequel…
There`s even a script all ready, penned by American screenwriter John Fusco. Fusco is such an avid wuxia fan that he`s been practising martial arts for many years. He stressed to Deadline that, “if there wasn`t continuing source material [to keep telling the story from Crouching Tiger], I would never have gotten involved.” Fusco promises a rich, complex brew based on the novels, which are “so vast and rich” that he “found characters from the second and third books in the series to create a most interesting stew while being as true to the source material” as he could be
Fusco`s passion for wuxia is not in doubt – he wrote the 2008 martial arts epic The Forbidden Kingdom, starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan. But we`re going to have to withhold judgement for now, because aside from being responsible for the Young Guns franchise and Hidalgo, he`s also the screenwriter who gave us… uh, Britney Spears` road movie Crossroads.
The upcoming film has a budget of about US$20 million, and production will start in May. More details as we get them!
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