Gong Liu in "Indy IV"?

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According to an article in today's Taiwan United (which only I can read because I own the necessary question-mark decoding software), the Taiwan (Taipei) Golden Horse Film Festival is angling to invite Gong Lias the festival's jury president, pending the Taiwan's News Bureau's approval. (What the...?) But Li said she hasn't received any invitation yet, that the job is demanding and tiring, and that she may not have time to do it as "she may play in a big-budget Hollywood film in June, which she's now in negotiations [about]."

(l. to r.) Gong Li, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford

Because Steven Spielberg 's Indiana Jones 4 is going to start filming in June, there's obviously no other conclusion than to presume that it and Gong Li's "big-budget Hollywood film starting in June" are one and the same. Absurdities aside, I'll say this -- Gong Li is exactly the sort of mainstream Asian actress that Spielberg and George Lucas would be hot for/comfortable with for whatever they might have in mind.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 17, 2007 at 6:20 PM

comment #1

Hillbillly says ...

Gong Li will blow ol' Blanchett away LOL.

Posted by Hillbillly at March 17, 2007 7:48 PM

comment #2

regan says ...

WOW! I hope she plays Indy's love interest' She She is gorgeous! But since when is Gong Li "mainstream"?

Posted by regan at March 17, 2007 8:05 PM

comment #3

regan says ...

P.S. This thing is going to have a hell of a cast.

Posted by regan at March 17, 2007 8:12 PM

comment #4

rocco says ...

"Absurdities aside, I'll say this -- Gong Li is exactly the sort of mainstream Asian actress that Spielberg and George Lucas would be hot for/comfortable with for whatever they might have in mind.

Why do I read that as condescending? Michael Mann casts Gong Li...GENIUS...but the old curmudgeons Spielberg and Lucas cast her, and it's suddenly safe and prosaic? Hmm, considering what a FUCKING DISASTER she was in and to 'Miami Vice,' there doesn't seem to be anything safe about it...

Posted by rocco at March 17, 2007 8:14 PM

comment #5

D.Z. says ...

Jeff, when are you gonna realize that the only parts for Asian actresses in Hollywood are prostitutes or dragon ladies?

Posted by D.Z. at March 17, 2007 8:16 PM

comment #6

regan says ...

Intresting how you all assume she will play a Villian. LOL I am going with love interest
Del. Jeff and I agree, She was the BEST thing in MV..

Posted by regan at March 17, 2007 8:19 PM

comment #7

rocco says ...

Gong Li was the most attractive thing in MV, sure, but the msot compelling? I literally had to subtitle her three or four times...I'm not a Farrell fan, but he owned the movie and elevated it above its b-movie dialogue and plot...

Posted by rocco at March 17, 2007 8:22 PM

comment #8

Hillbillly says ...

Will she be naked? Please....
Maybe the American audience will finally "Discover" this woman.

SS is a huge fan of Gongs.

Posted by Hillbillly at March 17, 2007 8:24 PM

comment #9

Bob Violence says ...

According to an article in today's Taiwan United (which only I can read because I own the necessary question-mark decoding software), the Taiwan (Taipei) Golden Horse Film Festival is angling to invite Gong Li as the festival's jury president, pending the Taiwan's News Bureau's approval. (What the...?)

The "News Bureau" here is the Government Information Office, which sponsors the Golden Horse Festival and presumably has final say over the makeup of the jury.

Posted by Bob Violence at March 17, 2007 8:46 PM

comment #10

Hillbillly says ...

Regan... I bet money Gong Li is Ford's love interest and Cate Blanchett is the villian.

Posted by Hillbillly at March 17, 2007 8:53 PM

comment #11

IClavdivs says ...

I guess Hannibal Rising or whatever that silly movie is called and her scene chewing in Memoirs of a Geisha were good enough. As for Miami Vice, thank God for big, blasting subtitles! She is going to blow Blanchett away? right, she hasn't blown anyone of little talent away in her previous endeavours but she will with Cate, right. It's the same old, same old, foreign actresses who excel in their country's films are heralded as the second coming when they get to the States, Gong Li has had 3 opportunities to do what she can over hear and the most she has achieved is passable, you'd think she would have shown what she can do even with MV, Memoirs and the awful Hannibal Risisng but she made barely a ripple. Come over, Gong Li, get your check and make the magazine covers.

Posted by IClavdivs at March 17, 2007 9:38 PM

comment #12

IClavdivs says ...

hear = here

Posted by IClavdivs at March 17, 2007 9:39 PM

comment #13

IClavdivs says ...

check = cheque

Posted by IClavdivs at March 17, 2007 9:41 PM

comment #14

Hillbillly says ...

"She is going to blow Blanchett away? right"

She has her in looks alone.
Gong Li has had had three SUPPORTING roles in Hollywood films. Not much time or material to make a splash. SS will say "Gong Li will be the next big thing" trust me. Although Webbers and Mann's gushing over her is embarrasing.

Posted by Hillbillly at March 17, 2007 9:49 PM

comment #15

Shane says ...

I wonder if Gong Li and Spielberg had any contact while he was circling MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.

Posted by Shane at March 18, 2007 12:20 AM

comment #16

Dan Revill says ...

Didn't Spielberg want to make Memoirs in Japanese at one point? Anyhow, I liked Gong Li in Miami Vice, but I do agree that Colin owned the film.
As for her presumed casting in Indy IV, that'd be pretty cool.
Blanchett and Li in one film? and an Indiana Jones picture at that? That would rule.

Posted by Dan Revill at March 18, 2007 1:07 AM

comment #17

jeffmcm says ...

Maybe this is Spielberg's way of taking screen-time (and workload) off of Harrison Ford, by loading the movie up with good co-stars (note: Shia Le Bouef is not in this category).

Posted by jeffmcm at March 18, 2007 3:00 AM

comment #18

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Cooper: The chances of a beautiful woman being naked in a Steven Spielberg/Indiana Jones film are about the same as running into a beautiful naked tour guide at Disneyworld in Orlando.

Posted by gruver1 at March 18, 2007 9:10 AM

comment #19

cobhome says ...

Blanchett would not have taken the role if she thought she was gonna be "blown away" by Gong Li -
and frankly I haven't seen Gong Li - for all her exotic beauty - do anything that suggest she has the acting chops to blow anyone away - I still say - Blanchett as villain - Gong Li is Indy's sidekick - damsel in distress -

Think there is a bit of an "uck" factor re: Ford and both Gong Li and Blanchett as his lovers - lol - he is old enough to be Blanchett's dad and Gong Li's grandpa -

Re: the "looks" comment - oh so now the criteria for deciding if a female actors performance is any good is her looks - so because Gong Li is an asian hottie - she will naturally blow Blanchett away - right - of course - actually - I think Gong Li's sultriness will play well against Blanchett coolness - to both actresses favor -

Posted by cobhome at March 18, 2007 11:58 AM

comment #20

BNick says ...

Cate Blanchett as Indy's love interest.

Gong Li as Short Round's love interest.

It's obvious, people.

Posted by BNick at March 18, 2007 1:05 PM

comment #21

Drew says ...

You know what's funniest about this?

There's nothing anywhere that says anything about Gong Li doing INDY 4. At all. Jeff invented that wholecloth.

Because we all know that only one big-budget movie will shoot in Hollywood this summer.

I'll give you this one for free, Jeff. Call Rob Cohen and ask him if Gong Li's going to be in INDY 4. I'll bet he says no.

Posted by Drew at March 18, 2007 3:20 PM

comment #22

regan says ...

Drew, Gong Li said HERSELF the movie begins production In June. Mummy stars in July.

Posted by regan at March 18, 2007 4:23 PM

comment #23

Drew says ...

Perhaps, but I'm not guessing. Jeff invented the INDY 4 thing out of thin air. I know for a fact that Gong Li has been dealing with the MUMMY producers. The entire supporting cast of MUMMY is Asian this time out, and they're aiming for big-name talent.

We'll see what we see, but Jeff literally invented this out of nowhere. Nothing in that article has anything to do with INDY 4. If you'd rather trust Jeff's supposition, feel free.

Posted by Drew at March 18, 2007 4:40 PM

comment #24

regan says ...

Cohen said Michelle Yeoh. and Jet li were in the movie.

Posted by regan at March 18, 2007 4:44 PM

comment #25

Chicago48 says ...

Is that the Gong Li from Miami Vice? Oh god no! I couldn't understand a word she spoke. Poor English, poor articulation, and really not a good actress. Wasn't Lucy Liu available?

Posted by Chicago48 at March 18, 2007 6:11 PM

comment #26

Chicago48 says ...

Is that the Gong Li from Miami Vice? Oh god no! I couldn't understand a word she spoke. Poor English, poor articulation, and really not a good actress. Wasn't Lucy Liu available? Talk about overrated!

Posted by Chicago48 at March 18, 2007 6:12 PM

comment #27