Schwarzenegger To Film New Projects In China

UPDATE: Added new info regarding A Journey to China.

Well we can safely chalk this up under the ‘WTF’ section of the week. Then again, with Terminator Genisys breaking the bank in China, can we all really be surprised that this would be the next logical step?

Multiple Asian (CRI, China Topix, Daily Pakistan) and Western (Flickering Myth) news sources are reporting that Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed on not only to star in but also to produce a $200 million-dollar Chinese blockbuster The Guest of Sanxingdui. The film is the latest in a wave of high-profile China-produced blockbusters, following films such as The Great Wall starring Matt Damon and The Flowers of War starring Christian Bale, both directed by Zhang Yimou.

According to CRI, the $200 million-budgeted film will be a 3D production, and will focus on the Sanxingdui Ruins, believed to be the remnants of the ancient Shu Kingdom which suddenly disappeared 3000 years ago. Perhaps his 2013 visit to the Terracota Army site was foreshadowing this?

Schwarzenegger is reported to have said that the film will feature an international story in order to introduce global audiences to the culture of Sanxingdui. Production is slated to get underway in March 2017 ahead of a planned 2019 release.

China Film Insider adds that Schwarzenegger had just completed his role, presumably a guest appearance, in the Sino-Russian co-production Viy 2: A Journey to China this week. The film, a sequel to the 2014 Russian 3D adventure film Viy, revolves around cartographer Jonathan Greene (Jason Flemyng) who accepts a mission from Russian Tsar Peter I to map Russia’s Far East. The Englishman embarks on a journey, which eventually takes him to China, where most of the action takes place. Asian superstar Jackie Chan, who also co-stars in the film, produces alongside China Film Co. Ltd. The film is shooting in Beijing, London and Moscow. Judging from the still below, I can only assume it is an (intentional) farce.

Schwarzenegger did not indicate if Chan would be involved in the Sanxingdui production. He and Chan both appeared in the 2004 film adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days, and worked together on an anti-film piracy public service announcement while Schwarzenegger was still governor.

Schwarzenegger will next be seen in the dramatic thriller Aftermath (formerly titled 478) and is currently in production on the action comedy Why We’re Killing Gunther.

Yes, but…Conan? The Predator?! The clock is ticking…

On the other hand, perhaps the move to China isn’t such a bad thing, seeing as to how their box-office seems to favour action heroes over superhero fluff, with Mechanic: Resurrection dominating their box-office this week while Renny Harlin’s Skiptrace, also starring Chan, grossed over US$136 million worldwide out of a US$60 million budget, 96% of which coming from China alone…