Li Bingbing to Star in Hollywood Movie, “Resident Evil: Retribution”
Since the highly controversial Hollywood sequel, Resident Evil: Retribution was initially revealed, each casting announcement made one wide-eyed. For Chinese fans of the Resident Evil installments, the addition of Li Bingbing (李冰冰) to the cast of the fifth film installment based on the popular game title will serve as another exciting reason to look forward to the movie!
A few days ago, Resident Evil: Retribution star, Milla Jovovich, broke the news that Li Bingbing will be joining the film’s cast as “Ada Wong.” Milla wrote on her Twitter account, “Drum roll please! So, Ada Wong in RE5 is being played by Chinese actress Li Bingbing! We’re so excited! check [her] out on IMDB!”
In fact, on September 23rd, it was revealed that original game characters from Resident Evil, Ada Wong, Leon S. Kennedy, and Barry Burton, will make their first big screen appearances in Resident Evil: Retribution. With the announcement that Ada Wong will be played by the beautiful Li Bingbing, the news made one pleasantly surpised and look forward to her brilliant performance.
In the Resident Evil game, the character of Ada Wong was born in 1974 and had a mixed lineage of American and Chinese parents. Ada was a secret agent of a powerful, mysterious group known as the “Organization” and made her first appearance in the game Resident Evil 2. Since the characters of Ada Wong and Leon S. Kennedy will make their first big screen appearance in Resident Evil: Retribution, it was speculated that Director Paul Anderson will likely depict the emotional love entanglements between the two characters.
As a popular mainland actress, Li Bingbing’s recent critically acclaimed films included The Knot <云水谣>, The Message <风声>, and Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame <狄仁杰之通天帝国>. Li Bingbing’s latest film, 1911 <辛亥革命>, was released in North American theaters several days ago. Previously, Li Bingbing starred opposite Hugh Jackman in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan <雪花與秘扇>. Portraying the classic game character of Ada Wong in Resident Evil: Retribution will pose as a new challenge for Bingbing.
Other cast members for Resident Evil: Retribution include Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Shawn Roberts, and Colin Salmon. No doubt, Resident Evil: Retribution is bound to start another strong wave of zombie horror. Filming for the movie will start soon; the movie will be released in 3D format on September 14, 2012 in North America.
Source: Sohu.com
Jayne: It’s very exciting to see Li Bingbing cast in Resident Evil: Retribution. Did anyone see Snow Flower and the Secret Fan?
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was a boring movie but her acting was quite well. Probably, I am not suitable for this type of drama.
For Resident Evil, I do not think she will have a huge part in the movie, probably, similar role like The Forbidden Kingdom.
For current Chinese actresses who participated/will participate in Hollywood productions, I do not see any one has significant impact on American audiences. And for actors, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Donald Chow are great actors who did impact on American audiences but their appearance are less and less due to the aging.
Korea starts to ship their actors into Hollywood Market, Jang Dong-gun, Rain, Byung-hun Lee have not done great thing yet but they have potential.
Who’s Donald Chow? Stephen Chow? Chow Yun Fat?
Anyways, yes I really hope there can be more Chinese (or even Asian) actors represented in Hollywood. Most people only know Jackie Chan and Jet Li, but we have so much more to offer.
Yeah Jet Li and Jackie Chan are most well known internationally among Chinese stars, but mostly for their kungfu.
Chow Yun-fat is not as well-known as Jackie Chan or Jet Li, but at least he managed to film Hollywood movies NOT for kung fu. (He possibly got more well known after filming Pirates 3).
Lee Byung-hun’s performance in the movie I dun rmb name but he acted Shadow something is kinda cringe worthy. All he needs is pose and I dun find he is cool :P. Jang Dong-gun’s Warrior way is similar but worse than Rango. And he also needs to act cool only. But I like the part he put the flower on his face to make the baby smile. Cutest baby! Rain’s car series he dun need to act much.
So I go to a conclusion that K artists in Hollywood needs act cool and that’s all.
In my POV Lee Byung Hun and Jang Dong Gun are better in K-movies for the time being. Their performance and characters have more depth and nuance in K-movies; than in stylish and glamor Hollywood haha.
Yes, very good actors. But I miss the chubby JDG.
GI Joe? Well that’s the only Hollywood movie I’ve seen that has Lee Byung-hun in it, lol. He was ok – his wooden demure fit his character.
Haven’t seen “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”, but I did go see “Detective Dee” in the theaters a couple of weeks ago, and LBB was fantastic in it. She always has this sad expression in her eyes which makes her very suitable for tragic roles. I’m glad that she’s starring in more Hollywood movies nowadays because I much prefer her over Zhang Ziyi.
In my opinion, Zhang Ziyi can’t act.
Zhang ziyi can act but I don’t like her.
Yah, I don’t like her too. I find her too arrogant and “mu zhong wu ren”.
Zhang is really arrogant but there is something in her that the western thinks she’s valuable though. weird.
Veejay, perhaps it’s her continental look that appeals to western filmmakers.
I agree about Zhang ziyi who can’t act even with 101% effort, excuse me!
Nice to see Li Bingbing, so kool!
I suppose to play in any holloywood part are a mad career goal
The fact they are making another instalment of this franchise is enough to leave one wide eyed and in total awe. It has led me to believe anything is possible even, and has shown me what ppl meant when they whinge about hollywood killing things with their ‘adaptations’. Though it is nice to see Li in a horror movie thing. China doesn’t really produce any thing close to these types. I spouse zombies may be taken to be metaphorical of communists…
we need more of li bingbing, she is gorgeous
Um, this is NOT a “Hollywood” production, it’s a European-Canadian production, therefore they weren’t allowed to hire too many American actors (since some of the leads are already Americans), they’re required to cast EU or Canadian performers only.
@ EkinFan
Agree. She is a classic Chinese beauty. Doe eyed, tall, slim, elegant smile, elegant features, none overwhelming.
She is as pretty as a picture. Of all the Chinese actresses popular nowadays, she ranks on the top of my list as a true blue Chinese beauty.
I think the potential of Chinese actors and actresses in the future market will be more. China has so many people, sure to be a catchment of beautiful and talented potential to be unearth.
Right now their actresses are more popular outside of China than their actors. Look forward to the day when we can be introduced to more actors from China, other than HuangXiaoMing, who is getting a bit stale lately.
Also, between Li Bing Bing and Fan Bing Bing, Fan always freaks me out a little because her good looks are borderline (on the verge) of an evil Chucky doll. I think there are plastic rumors about Fan.
“.. Fan Bing Bing, Fan always freaks me out a little because her good looks are borderline (on the verge) of an evil Chucky doll.”
LOL! Completely agree with this comment! Fan Bing Bing at times just looks.. yikes!
Fan is the one who know how to get the attention, Li is the one who know how to make the attention.
Do you know that in China, there is tis blow up doll that resemble Fan Bing Bing purposely made to cater needy guys? hehe
i thought both bingbings were plastic dolls 🙂
Yes, they both had beauty treatment. I remember watching them when they just entered the industry. They were almost nobody back then, their look was okay but not beauty as they are now. So photoshop and “special treatments” might be their friends.
Fan Bingbing looks best without heavy makeup. Actually, it’s Li Bingbing who had surgery to reshape her chin and jawline. Her pre-2005 pictures look very different from today.
it’s so good to heard Bing2 in Resident Evil:retribution. 🙂 I always have been a fan of RE and even passed all the rounds in the game hehe. wonder if she will cut her hair to suit the character in RE: Retribution?
I have doubts about how much emphasize she will get in this film, but it can be a good start. Haha..I’m also imagining Bing Bing in Ada Wong’s haircut and sexy red dress 😛
Yeah, hollywood has always been bias towards asian artist especially those not born in the US. I hope Bing2 will get a fair amount of onscreen appearance in RE:retribution, it will sux if she only appears just a few mins there in the beginning and end hehe..
I wonder how good her English is??
She can learn, or she can just memorize the script, or she can have little dialogues 😛
Language is not a problem. They will offer Bingbing English tutors if necessary to help her with her lines.
Hope it’s not like The Myth with Jackie Chan and Han Se Yuel where she could not speak much Chinese at all and could only act like a vase.
Language problem? Her character can be mute or those silent type. Or she can just memorise her lines.
I remembered the madia made a big deal of Edison Chen’s role in Dark Knight then what we had?
After watching the bluray for several times, I once recognized him as an unknown employee with 1/2 line of dialog for less than 10 seconds
@WhoAmI: Edison was in there?
Yes, he was. For a few seconds when Batman comes to Hongkong.
She is a beautiful woman but I don’t find her face memorable. As for this movie franchise, shouldn’t it have ended already? Still going on and on and on?
Funn, if TVB can keep Laughing almost immortal, why can’t western production houses keep their installments going on and on? Hahahaha…
@Funn,
If you’re a fan of the game RE, u will know they have PART I, II and III so if the producer is following the game’s sequence, there might be alot of this RE movies with different characters.
However, the movie that was played years ago dissappoint me as it didn’t follow the game’s storyplot.
Funn,
Allegedly each subsequent Resident Evil movie made more money than the previous one. As long as the movies continue to make money, then they will make more installments. There are enough game characters to film subsequent films.
I agree that while Li Bingbing is pretty, her face doesn’t truly stand out. Perhaps too evenly proportioned and symmetrical facial features? But her eyes do carry a lot of depth. Her eyes are memorable, but no so much the rest of her face. Her face reminds me of someone I can’t pinpoint whom right now.
Although her role may not have a lot of screen time, it is still good for Bingbing and other Asian artists to work on more international collaborations for the experience and exposure.
Funn and Jayne, no offense but
Her “qi zhi” and the words I would use to describe her are demure, modest and reserved. So it’s not surprising that she does not stand out. I feel it’s part of her quiet elegance.
But why every asian or chinese artiste debuting or continuing work in Hollywood must be kung fu film/gun totting film/action film? Why?
RE series is like in perpetual. Even Harry Potter has to end, please make RE stop! I mean Milla Jovovich’s entire career can be just about RE.
Canto, no offense taken but if an actress does not stand out, how then can she be truly memorable?
Hi Funn
She does not stand out as in “in your face” kind of thing. Like Lady Gaga, who really stands out. I don’t mean in a bad way cos there’s a place for the Lady Gagas in the world. They make this world more crazy and interesting.
But I suspect there will always be quiet admirers who appreciate her kind of beauty. Directors, producers as well as fans. She also helmed beauty ad campaigns by international brands such as L’oreal.
Chinese actresses who break into Hollywood are not that many yet. In the early days, we have cuckoos like Bai Ling, who make Chinese girls look like prostitutes in front of the Westerners. I am just glad that nowadays, more Chinese actresses are breaking into the international scenes, who offer the world more appreciation of higher quality Chinese beauty.
I have a feeling Bai Ling is a prostitute. I mean how on earth she can sustain herself there?
@Funn:
When I think of milla jovovich, I always think of “the fifth element” before RE.
But Milla is good as Alice.
Symmetrical face is considered beautify. A symmetrical face is consider more attractive than asymmetrical face.
Kidd,
“Symmetrical face is considered beautify. A symmetrical face is consider more attractive than asymmetrical face.”
Yes symmetry makes a face look more pleasant. But in Li Bingbing’s case, all her facial features are very proportionate and very symmetrical, similiar to Gigi Leung and 2011 Miss Hong Kong, Rebecca Zhu. While the women have very pleasant and pretty features, they don’t possess a “stand-out” kind of unique beauty that makes you take notice immediately.
Sometimes a more ravishing kind of beauty is the unique combination of perhaps features that do not always meet the perfect proportion. I’m thinking of a young Carina Lau, where her nose was slightly big and nostrils flared or even Andy Lau, whose nose had a unique hook which may even look unattractive on another person’s face, yet carried such distinct character and left a lasting impression.
The way of making product in the U.S is…. Die when no significant profit. It does annoy me when after watch a movie then scrap opened-ending…Okay I will have to wait 1 or 2 years to see the ending(if there is one) like G.I.Joe but it is a pain with drama, 1 season (often 12-20 eps) per year. So in other to finish a good drama, it takes 3-4 years, few over 10 years. At least they are some having good ending (season finale) so I can stop waiting for next season.
“highly controversial Hollywood sequel”
What’s so controversial about this sequel?
The only controversy I found was from the video game – RE5 where africans were “zombiefied” and people(not me) excused it was a racist game because white (the main character) shot black
Hrmm, on another note our dear Mr Reeves is making his directorial debut and either Zhou Xun or Zhang Zi Yi is considered to be the female lead. Hrmm….
http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5391434
Please not Zhouxun. I don’t like her!
Funn, I thought you don’t like Zhang Zi Yi. Zhou Xun too?
Can’t decide who I dislike more between the 2. I don’t like Zhou xun.
Funn,
You are the first person I know that said she dislike Zhou Xun.
Zhou Xun’s reputation as talented thespian with great acting skill is very high now.
2 years ago, there’s a news that a Taiwan production company want to film Taiwan version of Full House pairing Zhou Xun and Wu Chun. Many comments said that idol drama is beneath her, she is better off doing more quality movies and that she’s sort after by many great directors.
I don’t like her voice, I don’t like her looks, I don’t like her acting. I am not the only one who thinks so.
I’ll be the second?
I like Zhou Xun when she first broke out into the international scene.
She has a whimsical quality, that is very suitable for a creative field like media.
So I can see why she is a muse for some directors who are inspired by her.
But later I didn’t like her already. Her looks and voice was too self-absorbed. I was also bored by her artistic movies.
On another note, a Taiwanese director casted Kevin Spacey as a co-lead with Daniel Wu in his China-based film “Inseparable”. Hrmm..way to go with the westernChinese collaboration huh..haha.
About Spacey-Wu collab: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/inseparable-busan-film-review-246684
It’s ironic that many Chinese and Asian actresses (check out the peek-a-boobs of Korean actresses at the Busan Film Festival opening) are wearing extremely low-cut dresses, while Bai Ling is now dressing more conservatively, relatively speaking.
Yes, although I am a fan of Korean celebrities, their girl pop groups and songs, etc, are all very sexified right now in the trend.
I was taken aback by how sexy they girl groups were, in their dances, when I first started watching the pop music scene. But now am more or less used to it.
Too much use of plastic and most of the girls’ pop groups are high on using sex appeal to sell albums. In your face sexy dance moves, like Madonna in her Like a Virgin days and her conical bras. Pop fluff… but kinda of cute if you can get the right songs.
Yay yay yay! Great news! Lol! I love Resident Evil! Watched all of the movie installments cause I’m a huge fan of zombie movies! 😛
Have you seen 2004’s Dawn of the Dead? I don’t think anything since that has been any better. 28 Days Later is still good though. Can’t put my mind to before 2004 for some reason…
Few months ago I watched all four installments of Resident Evil. I can’t wait for Retribution to come out next year. I am looking forward to Bingbing’s performance.
Finally, a chinese zombie who’s not from the Qing dynasty!!