Legendary’s 15th century China epic The Great Wall appears to have found a new helmer today as The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers) is in talks to direct. Ed Zwick was previously attached to helm and the project, which very nearly moved forward with Henry Cavill, Benjamin Walker and Zhang Ziyi headlining. At the moment, however, no acting talent appears to be attached.
The Great Wall was originally said to follow British warriors who happen upon the hurried construction of the massive wall. As night falls, the warriors realize that the haste in building the wall isn’t just to keep out the Mongols — there is something inhuman and more dangerous.
Zwick wrote the screenplay with Marshall Herskovitz, although a rewrite is now being planned which may remove the story’s supernatural elements.
Yimou also recently signed on to helm Universal Pictures big screen adaptation of the Robert Ludlum thriller The Parsifal Mosaic.
