Zhang Ziyi Takes On 'Mulan'

Zhang Ziyi, 32, who broke onto the scene in the 2000 Ang Lee hit, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, has been wowing American and Chinese audiences ever since, starring in acclaimed movies like Hero, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Mulan: The Legend of a Woman Warrior, which is in production this year.

The anticipated film version of Mulan, adapted from a famous Chinese legend about a woman who poses as a man to fight in the army, will be brought to the screen in 3D. Speed director Jan de Bont will direct an English-language version of the film.

In the meantime, Ziyi, is promoting Gu Changwei's Life Is a Miracle in Beijing. The film, which costars Aaron Kwok (of Divergence) is about an HIV-infected couple in a small Chinese village who are brought back together after being estranged because of their illness. Changwei hopes that the film will raise awareness and discourage discrimination against people who are infected with AIDS/HIV.

Ziyi has recently been raising some eyebrows, as she was seen sharing a romantic meal with a new mystery man earlier this month, following her split from Israeli venture capitalist Vivi Nevo last year, according to Asia One News.

The release date for Mulan, which is currently in production, has yet to be determined. —KIMBERLY STEELE