Confirmed: Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen in Star Wars spin-off

Confirmed: Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen in Star Wars spin-off

CHINESE actors Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen have confirmed that they will be starring in a Star Wars spin-off movie due next year, reported China Radio International.

This confirms rumours last month that action star Yen was to appear in Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One.

Rogue One, helmed by Godzilla (2014) director Gareth Edwards, is the first entry in a spin-off movie series officially called the Star Wars Anthology Series.

Reports last month also suggested that Yen was starring in Episode VIII of the Stars Wars franchise, slated for a May 26, 2017 release in the United States.

Details on Yen's involvement in Rogue One are scarce, but he is said to play a Chinese Jedi in Episode VIII who meets iconic Star Wars character Han Solo - played by Harrison Ford - and becomes his ally.

Rogue One takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, and focuses on resistance fighters trying to steal plans to the moon-like Death Star super weapon. But Edwards has said no Jedi will appear in the film, which casts doubts over the Episode VIII rumour involving Yen.

China Radio International noted that the addition of Yen and Jiang follows a trend in Hollywood in which Chinese actors are cast to appeal to Chinese moviegoers.

Recent films include last year's X-Men: Days Of Future Past, which starred My Fair Princess actress Fan Bingbing, as well as Transformers: Age Of Extinction from the same year, which featured 1911 actress Li Bingbing.

Yen and Jiang join The Theory Of Everything actress Felicity Jones among the confirmed cast of Rogue One. Other actors reportedly tied to the movie include Nightcrawler actor Riz Ahmed and Taken 3 actor Forest Whitaker.

Rogue One is being filmed in London and is expected to be released in the US on Dec 16 next year.

myp@sph.com.sg


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