Bob and Harvey Weinstein are developing a stage version of martial arts Oscar winner CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON as well as the five books into a TIGER film franchise of three prequels and a sequel, reports VARIETY.
The Weinstein Co. have gained the worldwide rights to develop and produce a stage adaptation of Chinese author Wang Du Lu's CRANE IRON PENTALOGY, a series of books the fourth installment being CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
Harvey Weinstein said that the stage version would be akin to "Cirque du Soleil with a pronounced narrative, featuring the greatest martial artists."
The original novels follow the adventures of three generations of related protagonists during the Qing dynasty. Titles include CRANE FRIGHTENS KUNLUN, PRECIOUS SWORD, GOLDEN HAIRPIN, SWORD SPIRIT, PEARL LIGHT, TIGER and IRON KNIGHT, SILVER VASE.
The films will be in Chinese and the Weinsteins hope to bring TIGERs director Ang Lee and producer Bill Kong back for the sequels. The company has not chosen which book will start the film series. Though the Weinsteins were not involved in the making of Sony Pictures Classics TIGER, they do not plan to remake the story for their series.
Bob Weinstein said, "In our efforts to continue developing strong roots in Asia at the Weinstein Co., we see these projects as an avenue to nurture new relationships and discover fresh talent."
The intricate deal to obtain the rights from the author's son, Hong Wang, was brokered by Grace Chen, director of William Morris China, and Ji Xiang of Fangda Partners, and the Weinsteins are currently in talks to create a Chinese film fund.
"(CROUCHING TIGER) was one of the most successful foreign-language films of all time, and there is a whole world of material in all of these books that can be explored in a series of great films, much like the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy," said Harvey Weinstein. "Theater audiences should have high expectations for the spectacle that this extraordinary material can bring to the stage, and I think this is an opportunity to create something revolutionary."
The original CROUCHING TIGER grossed $128 million domestically in 2001, becoming the highest grossing foreign film in U.S. history at the time.
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