14 DAY TRIAL // The production of the Chinese-themed action movie “Outcast,” starring Nicolas Cage, is now underway in China. Based on James Dormer's screenplay, the movie captures a Chinese war romance between a warrior and the daughter of a deceased emperor, pursued by her cruel uncle.
Starring alongside Nicolas Cage are Hayden Christensen and Chinese actress Liu Yifei. The locations where scenes of the movie is filmed include Beijing, the Hebei province and the exotic region of Yunnan, according to Variety.
“Outcast” is Nick Powell's directorial debut after winning five Taurus awards for his amazing stunt work / choreography. British stunt director Powell was also in charge of the action choreography of the well-known movie “The Bourne Identity.”
“Nick Powell’s expertise in the world of stunts and martial arts along with his discerning eye are all huge assets to ensuring an authentic and thrilling action film that will resonate with audiences all over the world,” said Ying Ye, managing director of Easternlight.
The movie is one of the few Chinese martial arts-focused films to be shot in English and to be globally targeted. “Outcast” is under the label of Easternlight and Arclight Films, which also released the successful movie “Forbidden Kingdom” that is somehow similar in terms of genre.
Earlier this year, Nicolas Cage, Hayden Christensen and Nick Powell gathered in Beijing for a promotional press conference where Cage confessed his admiration for Chinese culture and discussed the possibility of setting up an office in Hong Kong.
A lot of movies are now American-Chinese co-productions due to the unlimited potential that China brings into the movie industry.
Most of the funding for “Outcast” was provided by Yunnan Film Group, which is eyeing a simultaneous US and China release for 2014.