Norah Jones to make film debut in Wong Kar-wai’s movie
Monday, 13 February , 2006, 08:16

Hong Kong: Grammy-winning singer Norah Jones, daughter of Indian musician Ravi Shankar, will make her film debut in the first English-language film by acclaimed Hong Kong art-house director Wong Kar-wai.

Wong was originally scheduled to shoot Lady from Shanghai, featuring Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, but has delayed the project until 2007 because they have not found a strong male lead actor, a source attending the ongoing Berlin Film Festival said.

Details of the new movie weren’t immediately available, but the source, who declined to be further identified, said it won’t revolve around the Hurricane Katrina disaster in the US as reported earlier. It also won’t be filmed in New York doubling as New Orleans.

"The only cast member that is confirmed... is Norah Jones," the source said.

The source also said the movie’s earlier reported $50 million budget is incorrect, but didn’t provide an accurate budget figure. It wasn’t clear if Jones will contribute to the music in the movie.

Jones, 26, rose to fame with the success of her debut album Come Away With Me, which won eight Grammys.

Wong is known for his subtle and beautifully shot movies like In the Mood for Love, Happy Together and 2046.

His films also feature melancholy soundtracks. Wong won best director at Cannes for Happy Together, a gay love story.

Jones’ management company didn’t immediately return a reporter’s call seeking comment.


http://sify.com/news/international/fullstory.php?id=14139326

Thank you flafims. Apparently it looks like it's somehow true. I've been reading news about it but they were all mostly rumours. The Shaghaiist refers to this xinhua article that says:

But recent mainland reports indicate that Wong¡¯s work with Kidman might be put off indefinitely because the script was not produced as planned.
source

As you can see it isn't that reliable. In it, they mention that Kar-Wai wants to cast Adrien Brody for the supposed Katrina film, so I wonder why he doesn't choose him for this role.
Well, the Berlin Film Festival will be on the whole week so we'll maybe get more info on this? ...hopefully.

Thanks again

Marie Xx

I'm actually relieved about this coz at least it doesn't mean that Nic will NOT be working w/ WKW.

As for no script yet, WKW is quite well-known for start filming when scripts not completely done, so it's not an unusual occurance.

Wow, thanks guys!

Yes, I'm also relieved because Nic's kind of busy right now with Baz's project, so who knows when she'll be able to start another one...

Shooting hasn't started so I don't think she can really be said to be busy with it yet (somebody correct me. Please. Somebody, anybody...) Unless Baz is doing the same sort of extensive preparations for it with his actors that he did with Moulin Rouge. I rather doubt it though - we've seen Nicole hither and yon at the Grammies, in NYC for UNIFEM, in Nashville, etc etc - and furthermore Nicole is much more famous and in demand now than she was then (back when she still had to go begging for parts) and likewise Russell is more famous than Ewan circa 1999-2000. So I doubt that they'll hie away on Baz' estate for an extended rehearsal period; they are both simply too busy and too in demand.

Actually, I'm rather disappointed it's being pushed back, although I'm all for a director taking his time. And what's this about Norah Jones? (grain of salt, grain of salt) A different name is being added to this project in the news every time we turn around.

yeah! like last year she did have upcoming films.. now EVEN MORE!! haha practically falling out of her mouth everytime sh opens it but i cant wait to see that movie! i am looking fowad too it, esp. Fur and Happt Feet

No chance to check on this report myself but if true it is "shades of Alexander the great" isn't it?

I think I will now start to get less expectant this film will get off the ground with Nicole in it.

But what about Rachel who was heading off to be in the film in January?

Thanks for the news Flafims

In an interview (darkhorizon?) which Nicole gave sometime ago, TLFS was the only one she said was definite, but that was before she met Keith and I get the feeling all her plans have gone out of the window. Even Baz's film is not certain. Russell Crowe seems like he all committed to it but not so Nicole and I don't think it's just the budget that may be delaying further news on it:looking: .

I just check on the news in taiwan...
we translated it already^^(really fast this time )

all we can do is Just Wait~

Yeah, I'm asking myself that same thing Foxy. I wonder what Rachel knows about all this. She was probably contacted and told that they will have to wait a little longer for the film to actually become a reality.

and as Nicarol says, all we can do is wait

Luv,
Marie Xx

Edit: I just found more news about it. Take a look.

Cannes Can't Go Wong Kar-Wai
http://en.chinabroadcast.cn

Elusive Hong Kong helmer Wong Kar-wai, whose austere sunglasses define his look, will find time after chairing the Cannes jury to come to grips with three new film projects. Two of the three are in English and involve top-tier talent.

Right after the May fest, Wong will focus on his English-lingo debut, a mood piece titled Blueberry Nights.

The film, which will mark the big-screen debut of Canadian singing sensation Norah Jones, is an extrapolation of a short film in which a shopkeeper falls for a mysterious female client who eats blueberry pies.

The $10 million picture is being set up as a unionized shoot in New York City. He will presumably stick with his habitual movie-making methods -- a notable lack of script and a predilection for snatching scenes and shots over an extended period.

Producers include Wong, Jacky Pang of Wong's Hong Kong-based Jettone Films and Jean-Louis Piel. Producer of Nicole Kidman-starrer Birth and Zhang Yimou's Shanghai Triad, Piel retains rights in North America and China.

Remaining finance and international sales are by France's StudioCanal. StudioCanal, Piel and Jettone reteam on the previously announced Lady From Shanghai, a $30 million romantic thriller, which will now shoot in 2007.

Thanks for the info, Marie!!

thanks everyone...well, we have 2 Nicole movies to look forward to this year, hopefully Baz's Australian epic by the end of next year...and then we'll have the WKW one for two years from now....this is kind of good, b/c they all seem to be great directors and really anticipated films, and since they are spread out, it could lead to more Oscar nominations for Nicole, rather than if they all came out together, and she could only be nominated for one!

thanks, flafilms.
i dont believe nicole is in any film, until it comes out at the cinema, because of her hectic schedule!

I found a teaser poster for The Lady from Shanghai that's apparently been seen at the Berlin Film Festival.:

http://image2.sina.com.cn/ent/m/f/2006-02-...68ec68ecc83.jpg

There's an article on http://www.monkeypeaches.com/ about this teaser poster:

This image shows a large portion of the teaser poster appeared at the Berlin International Film Festival. It shows a lady walking in a street alone. Some kind of menu is written on the window glass and a bullet hole is visible on the right. The elevated rail line makes it looks more like a street in New York or Chicago, rather than Shanghai. Story of Lady from Shanghai is set at multiple locations around the world and Shanghai is only one of several cities to be featured in the film. Part of the URL of the official site is also reveal on the poster - www.ladyfromshanghai.com. Also according to World Entertainment News Network, Rachel Weisz just said that she would play a pregnant woman in the film and she would not have to "hide her bump". Since Lady from Shanghai has already been postponed to next year, her pregnancy will not be a matter any more.

Thank you C81!!
I never thought I would see anything like this. It looks like the film has been popular among the festival. It's a shame that we'll have to wait a little bit more for this to be a reality. Great poster!

Luv,
Marie Xx

AWW! I really wanted to see it!!! Well, atleast we still get to see it! It would suck if it was pulled out like Eukalyptus. (sp?)

That's alright because she's got movies coming out soon.

aaww shucks! I dislike delays. I was looking forward to TLFS. Oh well at least we have Fur coming soon. THX.

P.S. Thx for the teaser poster link, C81.

Thanks so much for that Teaser Poster C81 Atmospheric.
It will be a good addition to our The Lady From Shanghai page.

Adding the poster from C81's link here for everyone in case it was missed. Refer back to C81's post for more information.

such a shame it's delayed. Still it sounds cool that they need "a strong male lead actor" really proves Nicole can overpower the male lead actor if not strong enough with her acting. Who would've ever thought that that would happen when she was married to Tom... I like!! Thanks for the information!

Thanx 4 all da info guys
Like some people have already said, all we can do now id w8

~Viviana~