Weekend in Taipei | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical poster | |
Directed by | George Huang |
Written by |
|
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Production company | |
Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Countries | France Taiwan [1] |
Language | English |
Weekend in Taipei is an upcoming French action film [2] directed by George Huang and co-written with Luc Besson. Starring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang, the film was filmed and set in Taiwan. It centers around an American DEA agent, John Lawlor (Evans), who reunites with a Taipei-based mercenary driver, Joey Kwang (Gwei), and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with her.
The film is set to premiere on 21 August 2024 in France, follow by a theatrical release on 25 September in Taiwan.
John Lawlor, a committed American Drug Enforcement Administration agent, fell in love with Joey Kwang, a Taipei-based transporter, but was forced to separate due to the disruption of criminal and corruption activities. 15 years later, the duo is reunited when Lawlor is on a mission in Taipei. [3]
In 2013, director Luc Besson and producer Virginie Besson-Silla filmed the French sci-fi film Lucy in Taiwan. The duo were impressed by the Taiwanese cityscapes and promised to return to Taiwan to shoot another film. [5] [6] In February 2023, Luc and Virginie Besson developed a screenplay set in Taipei and went to Taipei for further location scouting. [7] The Bessons met with Taipei City mayor Chiang Wan-an, who announced that the film would be supported by the Taipei Film Commission. [7] [1] Initially titled Weekend Escape Project, the film was announced to be produced by EuropaCorp in June 2024, with George Huang brought on as the director, while Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei were cast as the lead actors. [5] The film marks EuropaCorp's first production after the company's financial restructuring and a four-year hiatus. [5] Huang later also took up screenwriting duties and co-wrote the film with Besson. [2] In August, Korean actor Sung Kang joined the cast. [8] The distribution rights in North America were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in March 2024. [2] The official trailer was released in August 2024. [9]
Principal photography began on 3 July in Taipei, [5] with Evans arriving in Taiwan to prepare for the shoot in June. [10] [11] The entire filming crew was composed of Taiwanese filmmakers. [1] Filming was expected to span across three months, with location shooting taking place at Zhongshan Hall, Taipei Performing Arts Center, Taipei Dome, Taipei Music Center, and Taipei City Hall. [5] [12] Filming also took place at the I-Mei Foods office on 7 August, [8] and at the American Street of Ximending on 22 August, with Besson and Kang spotted on set. [13]
Weekend in Taipei is set to release theatrically in France on 21 August 2024. [14][ better source needed] The film will be subsequently released on 25 September in Taiwan, [6] [15] and on 10 November in North America. [9]
Weekend in Taipei | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical poster | |
Directed by | George Huang |
Written by |
|
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Production company | |
Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Countries | France Taiwan [1] |
Language | English |
Weekend in Taipei is an upcoming French action film [2] directed by George Huang and co-written with Luc Besson. Starring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang, the film was filmed and set in Taiwan. It centers around an American DEA agent, John Lawlor (Evans), who reunites with a Taipei-based mercenary driver, Joey Kwang (Gwei), and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with her.
The film is set to premiere on 21 August 2024 in France, follow by a theatrical release on 25 September in Taiwan.
John Lawlor, a committed American Drug Enforcement Administration agent, fell in love with Joey Kwang, a Taipei-based transporter, but was forced to separate due to the disruption of criminal and corruption activities. 15 years later, the duo is reunited when Lawlor is on a mission in Taipei. [3]
In 2013, director Luc Besson and producer Virginie Besson-Silla filmed the French sci-fi film Lucy in Taiwan. The duo were impressed by the Taiwanese cityscapes and promised to return to Taiwan to shoot another film. [5] [6] In February 2023, Luc and Virginie Besson developed a screenplay set in Taipei and went to Taipei for further location scouting. [7] The Bessons met with Taipei City mayor Chiang Wan-an, who announced that the film would be supported by the Taipei Film Commission. [7] [1] Initially titled Weekend Escape Project, the film was announced to be produced by EuropaCorp in June 2024, with George Huang brought on as the director, while Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei were cast as the lead actors. [5] The film marks EuropaCorp's first production after the company's financial restructuring and a four-year hiatus. [5] Huang later also took up screenwriting duties and co-wrote the film with Besson. [2] In August, Korean actor Sung Kang joined the cast. [8] The distribution rights in North America were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in March 2024. [2] The official trailer was released in August 2024. [9]
Principal photography began on 3 July in Taipei, [5] with Evans arriving in Taiwan to prepare for the shoot in June. [10] [11] The entire filming crew was composed of Taiwanese filmmakers. [1] Filming was expected to span across three months, with location shooting taking place at Zhongshan Hall, Taipei Performing Arts Center, Taipei Dome, Taipei Music Center, and Taipei City Hall. [5] [12] Filming also took place at the I-Mei Foods office on 7 August, [8] and at the American Street of Ximending on 22 August, with Besson and Kang spotted on set. [13]
Weekend in Taipei is set to release theatrically in France on 21 August 2024. [14][ better source needed] The film will be subsequently released on 25 September in Taiwan, [6] [15] and on 10 November in North America. [9]