Chinese stars Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat and Joan Chen have reportedly signed on to star in acclaimed director Zhang Yimou, whose Hero was nominated for a best foreign film Oscar.

The movie, allegedly called Autumn Remembrance, will mark the first time in 11 years that Gong has worked with Zhang Yimou, who directed her in the 1991 global hit Raise the Red Lantern.

In the new film to be shot in China next February, Gong plays an imperial bodyguard who falls in love with a prince played by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) star Chow in a tragic tale of star-crossed lovers and Chen would performed as the prince step-mother, Daily Variety said.

"It is a heartfelt story," said Zhang Weiping, Zhang Yimou's business partner. He also revealed that the script had not been finished and all about the movie had not been set yet. "To date no one has signed the contract. If we draft a candidate list, Chow and Gong will be our first choices. Zhang Yimou and Gong know each other well since the two were former partners in almost a dozen movies," said Zhang Weiping.

Gong and Zhang Yimou last worked together on 1995's Shanghai Triad. In Zhang Yimou's recent two world-famous martial art movies --- Hero and House of Flying Daggers --- Zhang Ziyi replaced Gong as the heroines. Both Gong and Zhang Yimou hoped to join hands again, but didn't have any opportunities to and kept this new movie as secret for a long time.

"The movie is set in ancient China but not a martial art production. Unlike Hero and House of Flying Daggers, the new production will focus on internal conflicts between roles, so high acting skills of the leading roles are expected," said Zhang Weiping.

According to him, the story took place in Tang Dynasty (581-618) and the investment would be higher than Zhang Yimou's previous productions for the huge costs of settings and props.

Chow is currently starring in the Hollywood movie Pirates of the Caribbean 2 while Gong is making Memoirs of a Geisha for Chicago director Rob Marshall.

(Shenzhen Daily August 8, 2005)