Stephen Chow Starts Work on Yangtze River 7 (Long River 7)

Shooting on Stephen Chow’s (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) Long River 7 (Yangtze River 7) has started at an elementary school in Ningbo City in eastern China, according to several Chinese newspapers.

Long River, also called the Yangtze River, is China’s longest and the world’s third longest river. Long River 7actually refers to a Chinese satellite, inspired by China’s Shenzhou manned space program.

An earlier published report stated that Chow would play an astronaut who meets an alien boy and a female robot. This plot description has not been confirmed, but apparently the movie will be a comedy with some sci-fi and Chow’s character will fall in love with a girl played by newcomer Zhang Yuqi.

Lam Chi-Chung, who played Chow’s sidekick in Kung Fu Hustle, will be the second male lead. Many others from Kung Fu Hustle, including Chan Kwok-Kwan, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Wah and Tian Kai-Man, may also join the cast. A press conference is scheduled in Beijing this Thursday.