[naxus]

Jay Chou New Film Title 'Slam Dunk' Changed to 'Kung Fu Dunk'
Written by Patrick Frater



CANNES -- Emperor Motion Picture has picked up int’l sales rights to “Kung Fu Dunk,” a high school-set martial arts actioner that is one of the biggest budget pics to emerge from Taiwan in recent years.

English-language title has recently been changed from “Slam Dunk” to avoid confusion with a comic book franchise of the same name.

Pic’s cast is headed by pop superstar Jay Chou, who made his big screen debut in “Curse of the Golden Flower.” It reunites him with “Golden Flower” action director Ching Siu-tung and cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding. Working with a $10 million budget, pic is directed by veteral helmer Kevin Chu Yin-ping. It also stars EMP-repped starlet Charlene Choi, Taiwanese model Chen Bo-ling and Hong Kong’s Eric Tsang.

“Kung Fu Dunk” is produced by Taiwan’s Chang Hong Channel Group and China’s Shanghai Film Group. Emperor and Japan’s Kadokawa recently boarded as equity investors, but left issue of international sales outside Asia open. Within the Asian region, rights were pre-bought by distributors in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in deals arranged by Chang Hong. And in an unusual development eight regional hardtop circuits in China also commited to screen the movie.

Pic is now shooting in China and will shift to Taiwan before wrapping next month. Despite a heavy special effects component, pic is skedded for release around Chinese New Year in Feb 2008.

Source: VarietyAsiaOnline
Credits: noreen @ www.jay-chou.net, AsianFanatics

[shortxswt]

I think Slam Dunk sounded much better.

[darkzorb]

Definitely. Slam Dunk did sound better, but they probably also ran into legal programs trying to market it with that name.

[cheri]

yea slam dunk sounds better, kung fu dunk sounds kind of lame...