News from Across the Interwebs!!!

*UPDATE*

The poster we posted yesterday was not the final poster and we are removing it at the request of LionsGate.

A massive update today!!! Tons of news on The Forbidden Kingdom hit the interwebs, along with a ninth poster for the martial arts epic (tenth if you count the alternate Jackie poster on the official site!)! But first the news…

Jet Li Speaks!

Jet Li spoke with the Chinese news outlet Sina.com and discussed The Forbidden Kingdom. I tried to find a transcript since sometimes nuances tend to get lost in translation, but the next best thing is this AP news report on the interview…

Li said he altered the script, inspired by the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” to turn the story into a child’s dream about Chinese mythology. He said this would make characters with special powers like the monkey king more believable to a western audience.

“The West can’t accept a traditional interpretation of ‘Journey to the West.’ Westerners can understand Superman, Batman but not this — a monkey that’s so dominating,” the actor was quoted saying.

The whole AP story can be found HERE.

The One Foundation

Next, Jet Li held a press conference in Beijing to announce a pact with Huayi Brothers Film Corporation to apply a percentage of its box office profits to Jet’s One Foundation, starting with The Forbidden Kingdom …

China’s film industry leader Huayi Brothers Film Corporation officially announced their cooperation with One Foundation, the charity fund launched by Chinese kung fu master Jet Li, in a press conference held in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon, March 5.

Wang Zhongjun, CEO of Huayi Brothers, said that Huayi, together with their partners, four major theater companies, will donate part of their box office income in the next decade to One Foundation for charity. If one film ticket was sold, Huayi Brothers would donate 0.1 yuan and the related theater would donate 0.01yuan. And the donation starts from the action blockbuster “The Forbidden Kingdom”, which is scheduled to premiere in North America on April 18.

Starring Jet Li and another superstar Jackie Chan, the movie has been the focus of public attention since shooting began. This film marks the first collaboration between two stars. It is estimated to break the box office record by Peter Chan’s epic movie the Warlords in 2007.

Jet Li, who was present at the press conference, was very glad to have this tycoon on board. “Since the fund’s launch last year, many film companies, directors and actors have offered help to the One Foundation. Today, we have set up cooperation with Huayi Brothers. That means more and more celebrity friends will join in to promote the charity campaign”. Jet Li is confident that his fund will benefit more people. It’s believed the two joining hands will result in more donations for the One Foundation.

From here

The Forbidden Kingdom at AFI Dallas

Also, Screen Power reports that The Forbidden Kingdom will screen at this year’s AFI Dallas International Film Festival, which runs from March 27 through April 6!

Also from the interwebs, a new theater display …

Thanks to Dear Chibi, Jet Li message boards and Screen Power.