Taiwanese actress Shu Qi has wrapped production on her directorial debut, a previously under-the-radar project. Production company Mandarin Vision has released a teaser image for the new film, titled Lassalong with a shot of Shu behind the camera during a recent location shoot.
Described as an original story written and directed by Shu, the film is expected to be released in Asia in 2025, according to the producers. It is unclear whether Shu will also perform in LassMandarin Vision declined to share further information about the project.
A fashion icon and a favorite of both arthouse and commercial filmmakers across the Chinese-speaking world, Shu achieved success in Taiwanese master Hou Hsiao-hsien's 2001 film Millennium MamboSubsequent successes include Feng Xiaogang If you're the right one (2008), Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013) by Stephen Chow, Off with the bullets (2014) by Jiang Wen, the blockbuster of Wuershan Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015) and Hou's latest feature film The killerShe has won two Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan and three Hong Kong Film Awards, and has served on the juries of the Berlin International Film Festival (2008), Cannes Film Festival (2009) and Venice Film Festival (2023).
“I am so happy that filming has finished. I can't wait to share this film with audiences around the world,” Shu said in a statement released to the press on Tuesday.
Lass is executive produced by veteran Taiwanese producer Yeh Jufeng, who collaborated with Shu on the 2017 film The village of no return. The new film is financed by Chinese companies CMC Entertainment, Wow Momentum, JQ Pictures and Aranya Pictures.