Internationally known Chinese director Zhang Yimou is reportedly in talks to direct The Great Wall for Legendary.
This has been a passion project for Legendary CEO Thomas Tull, who developed the fantasy adventure with World War Z author Max Brooks, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The film was almost made in 2012, but scheduling conflicts got in the way. Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai, Glory) was hired to direct that version, before it collapsed and he left. Henry Cavill and Benjamin Walker were also set to star.
According to Deadline, Tull was hoping that this would be a major project for his Legendary East division, which was created in a joint deal with China Film. The two companies have now picked Zhang to helm the project.
Zhang is known for several international hits, like Hero, House of Flying Daggers and Raise the Red Lantern. He also directed the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. He did get in some trouble in his private life for having three children.
Great Wall’s plot centers on two British soldiers traveling through 15th century China who discover the true purpose of the Great Wall of China.