Weekend in Taipei

Weekend in Taipei
Theatrical poster
Directed byGeorge Huang
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Production
companies
EuropaCorp
Huayu International Entertainment
Distributed by
  • EuropaCorp (France)
  • Cai Chang Asia (Taiwan)
Release dates
  • 1 September 2024 (2024-09-01) (Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi)
  • 25 September 2024 (2024-09-25) (France & Taiwan)
Running time
114 minutes
CountriesFrance
Taiwan[1]
LanguageEnglish

Weekend in Taipei is a 2024 action film directed by George Huang and co-written with Luc Besson. Starring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang, the film is a co-production between France and Taiwan. It was filmed and set in Taipei, Taiwan, centering around an American DEA agent (Evans) who reunites with a Taipei-based mercenary driver (Gwei) and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with her.

The film had its world premiere at Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi in Taipei, Taiwan on 1 September 2024, and was theatrically released in France and Taiwan on 25 September.

Premise

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John Lawlor, a committed American Drug Enforcement Administration agent, fell in love with Joey, 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.[2]

Cast

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In addition, Michael Tao has been cast in an undisclosed role.[4]

Production

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Development

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In 2013, director Luc Besson and producer Virginie Besson-Silla filmed the French sci-fi film Lucy in Taiwan. The duo was impressed by the city's landscapes and asserted they would to return for another project.[7][8] In 2022, Taiwanese-American director George Huang conceived a film about a female mercenary driver set in Asia and approached Luc Besson to help develop the project.[9] Initially set in Hong Kong, the project became unavailable due to shifts in funding. Besson then suggested that Huang change the setting to Taipei.[10][11] Huang and the Bessons, along with director Olivier Megaton, went to Taipei for location scouting in February 2023,[12][7] and met with Taipei City mayor Chiang Wan-an, who announced that the film would be supported by the Taipei City Government and the Taipei Film Commission would join the production.[1][12] The scout spanned fourteen days, after which Huang agreed to use Taipei as the backdrop and revised the screenplay accordingly.[10][11] Initially titled Weekend Escape Project, the film was announced to be produced by EuropaCorp in June 2024, with Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei cast as the lead actors.[7] The film marks EuropaCorp's first production after the company's financial restructuring and a four-year hiatus.[7] Huang later also took up screenwriting duties and co-wrote the film with Besson.[13] In August, Korean-American actor Sung Kang joined the cast.[14] The distribution rights in North America were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in March 2024.[13] The official trailer was released in August 2024,[15] with Patrick Lee revealed to be part of the cast.[16] In September, Tuo Tsung-hua and Lu Yi-ching announced to star.[5]

Filming

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Principal photography began on 3 July 2023 in Taipei and was expected to spanned across three months,[7] with Evans arriving in Taiwan to prepare for the shoot in June.[17][18] The entire filming crew was composed of Taiwanese filmmakers.[1] Location shooting in Taipei took place at various sites, including Zhongshan Hall, Lions' Plaza Commercial Building, and Luoyang Car Park in Wanhua District; the Taipei Performing Arts Center, Shezi Bridge, and Guandu Nature Park in Shilin District; Taipei Dome, Taipei 101, and Taipei City Hall in Xinyi District; Taipei Arena in Songshan District; and Taipei Music Center in Nangang District.[19] On 15 July, Daniel Wu and Janet Hsieh were seen with the cast in Neihu District, Taipei.[20] Production moved to Keelung on 25 July, where a car chase scene was shot near Dawulun Beach,[21] as well as at the Aodi Fishing Harbor.[22] On 11 August, filming took place at the Grand Victoria Hotel in Zhongshan District.[23] Shooting then occurred on American Street in Ximending on 22 August, with Besson and Kang spotted on set.[24] Additional scenes were captured in Datong District and Daan District, and the entire production filed a total of twelve road closure applications, including closing the Ziqiang Tunnel to film a car crash scene, making it the most applied-for film in history.[10][25] Most of the interior scenes were filmed at Marriott Taipei, where the foreign cast and crew stayed during the shoot, with the hotel mainly served as the setting for a business tower, as well as the characters' homes and offices.[5] Filming ultimately concluded on 29 August.[26]

Release

[edit]

Weekend in Taipei had its world premiere at Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi in Taipei, Taiwan on 1 September 2024,[27] followed by a theatrical release in France and Taiwan on 25 September.[28][8] The film will be subsequently released on 8 November in North America.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "兌現10年承諾《周末在台北》大動作勘景　台北市長蔣萬安歡迎國際影人全力支持拍攝". Taipei Film Commission (in Chinese). 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Massoto, Erick (1 August 2024). "'Weekend In Taipei' Trailer Reunites Two 'Fast & Furious' Stars [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b Lee, Charlotte (30 August 2024). "Taiwan-filmed 'Weekend in Taipei' to hold red carpet event". Taiwan News. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b "《台北追緝令》看點有哪些？台灣場景變好萊塢、盧貝松式的幽默融入劇情！". Marie Claire (in Chinese). 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "《台北追緝令》赫見熟面孔　陸弈靜庹宗康與李沛旭一起打入國際市場". Mirror Media (in Chinese). 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. ^ 陳慧貞 (23 September 2024). "李沛旭參演盧貝松監製「台北追緝令」 歸零扮幫派老大". World Journal (in Chinese). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Frater, Patrick; Keslassy, Elsa (21 June 2023). "Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei to Star in Taipei-Set Action Thriller From Europacorp (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "盧貝松《台北追緝令》預告曝光！全片台灣拍攝，男神路克伊凡斯、韓哥、桂綸鎂一同演出". Marie Claire (in Chinese). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. ^ 魯皓平 (2 September 2024). "《台北追緝令》拍出超乎想像的台灣風景！好萊塢大場面飛車追逐令人驚豔". Global Views Monthly (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "《台北追緝令》盧貝松展現台灣風光：台北101、西門町、中山堂等名景躍上銀幕！". United Daily News (in Chinese). 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b 蕭采薇 (10 September 2024). "盧貝松10年前留下好印象！　新作《台北追緝令》全片台灣取景「讓世界看見」". ETtoday (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b Strong, Matthew (11 February 2023). "French producer Virginie Besson, director Olivier Megaton plan Taipei film". Taiwan News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (22 March 2024). "Luke Evans Actioner 'Weekend In Taipei' Produced By Luc Besson's EuropaCorp Acquired By Ketchup Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  14. ^ Scanlan, Sean (8 August 2023). "'Fast Furious' star arrives for a new film project in Taipei". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b Cassio, Jerome (2 August 2024). "Weekend In Taipei Trailer: 2 Fast & Furious Franchise Stars Reunite In New Action Movie". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  16. ^ "《台北追緝令》桂綸鎂化身飛車手　姜成鎬與路克伊凡斯為愛大戰". Mirror Media (in Chinese). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  17. ^ Chiang, Michelle (19 June 2023). "Luke Evans to film Luc Besson's movie in Taipei". Radio Taiwan International. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  18. ^ 葉冠吟 (18 June 2023). "盧貝松再取景台灣 男主角路克伊凡斯現身台北". China News Service (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  19. ^ 熊景玉 (10 February 2023). "盧貝松監製妻來台勘景　約定蔣萬安《週末在台北》". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  20. ^ 陳嘉玲 (15 July 2023). "捕獲野生「韓哥」！復活後與「歐文蕭」來台逛夜市　Janet作陪". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  21. ^ 熊景玉 (1 August 2023). "【獨家】【大明星踩點台灣】盧貝松挺肚指揮　路克伊凡斯外木山拍飛車直擊". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  22. ^ 麥恩 (25 September 2024). "幕後｜《台北追緝令》原本是香港追緝令，大武崙漁港是電影人夢寐以求的景色". Public Television Service (in Chinese). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  23. ^ 熊景玉 (22 August 2023). "【獨家】【街邊看好戲】內心戲難不倒影后　桂綸鎂10分鐘收服盧貝松". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  24. ^ "壹蘋10點強打｜10小時貼身跟拍！盧貝松台北暴雨收工　韓哥曝菸槍本色（狗仔直擊）". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  25. ^ Kuo, Tigre (3 September 2024). "桂綸鎂突破性演出，韓哥、盧貝松大讚來台真對！《台北追緝令》讓好萊塢看到台北魅力". Prestige Hong Kong (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  26. ^ "《台北追緝令》盧貝松攜桂綸鎂、姜成鎬與粉絲互動 台北見面會盛況空前". United Daily News (in Chinese). 3 September 2024. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  27. ^ 江昭倫 (22 August 2024). "台灣團隊拍《台北追緝令》獲盛讚 有一點連盧貝松也喊神奇". Radio Taiwan International (in Chinese). Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Plus fort que Jason Statham ? Cet acteur cogne dur dans la bande-annonce du film d'action Week-end à Taipei". AlloCiné (in French). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
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