Producers Alfred Cheung and Tim Kwok announce the start of principal photography this week on action-comedy HIGHBINDERS in Dublin. Starring Jackie Chan, HIGHBINDERS is directed by Hong Kong action maestro Gordon Chan, from a screenplay by Bennett Joshua Davlin, Paul Wheeler and Bey Logan. The film’s Executive Producers are Albert Yeung, Jackie Chan and Willie Chan. Main Producers for the picture are Alfred Cheung and Tim Kwok, while Line Producing duties are headed by Rick Nathanson.
Co-stars with Jackie Chan include the British actor and comedian Lee Evans (Funny Bones, Mousehunt, There’s something About Mary). The female lead for the picture is Claire Forlani (Antitrust, Meet Joe Black). Director Gordon Chan’s credits include Fists of Legends (starring Jet Li) and 2000 AD. The Action Director is the legendary Sammo Hung (Martial Law) who, with Jackie Chan, collaborated in the development of a new style of action movie, combining physical comedy with martial arts.
The story is based on an original idea by Producer Alfred Cheung. Eddie Yang (Jackie Chan) is a Hong Kong cop who uncovers an international slavery syndicate. Arthur Watson (Lee Evans), a bumbling detective, is also hot on the trail of this traffic in human misery. Eddie follows the syndicate to Dublin, where Watson is heading an Interpol investigation into Snakehead, the elusive crime boss, who is suspected of masterminding the illegal immigrant trade to Europe. Eddie and Watson join forces, working with femme fatale Interpol agent, played by Claire Forlani, to bring down the syndicated ring.
Emperor Multimedia Group, the Hong Kong based production and distribution company, a subsidiary of The Emperor Group Conglomerate in Asia, has produced and distributed several local Asian and foreign productions. EMG is currently handling worldwide distribution of the film.
HIGHBINDERS will wrap in Dublin at the end of August. The production will then break while Jackie Chan shoots ‘The Tuxedo’, before HIGHBINDERS restarts in Asia at the end of the year. Chan will also scheduled to film the sequel to 'Shanghai Noon' in February 2002. 'Shanghai Knights' is set in turn of the century London, and rumour has it, it will be filmed in Ireland.
