Weekend in Taipei explained
Weekend in Taipei is an upcoming French action film directed by George Huang and co-written with Luc Besson. Starring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang, the film was filmed and set in Taiwan. It centers around an American DEA agent, John Lawlor (Evans), who reunites with a Taipei-based mercenary driver, Joey Kwang (Gwei), and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with her.
The film is set to premiere on 25 September 2024 in France and Taiwan.
Premise
John Lawlor, a committed American Drug Enforcement Administration agent, fell in love with Joey Kwang, 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.[1]
Cast
Production
Development
In 2013, director Luc Besson and producer Virginie Besson-Silla filmed the French sci-fi film Lucy in Taiwan. The duo were impressed by the Taiwanese cityscapes and promised to return to Taiwan to shoot another film.[3] [4] Luc and Virginie Besson subsequently developed a screenplay set in Taipei and pre-production of the project began in February 2023.[5] The Bessons, along with director Olivier Megaton, went to Taipei for location scouting in the same month 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.[6] Initially titled Weekend Escape Project, the film was announced to be produced by EuropaCorp in June 2024, with George Huang brought on as the director, while Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei were cast as the lead actors. The film marks EuropaCorp's first production after the company's financial restructuring and a four-year hiatus. Huang later also took up screenwriting duties and co-wrote the film with Besson.[7] In August, Korean actor Sung Kang joined the cast.[8] The distribution rights in North America were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in March 2024. The official trailer was released in August 2024.[9]
Filming
Principal photography began on 3 July 2023 in Taipei, with Evans arriving in Taiwan to prepare for the shoot in June.[10] [11] The entire filming crew was composed of Taiwanese filmmakers. Filming was expected to span across three months, with location shooting taking place at Zhongshan Hall, Taipei Performing Arts Center, Taipei Dome, Taipei Music Center, and Taipei City Hall.[12] Filming also took place at the American Street of Ximending on 22 August, with Besson and Kang spotted on set.[13]
Release
Weekend in Taipei is set to premiere in France and Taiwan on 25 September 2024.[14] The film will be subsequently released on 10 November in North America.
Notes and References
- Web site: ‘Weekend In Taipei’ Trailer Reunites Two 'Fast & Furious' Stars [Exclusive] ]. 1 August 2024 . . Massoto . Erick . 2 August 2024 . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731180730/https://collider.com/weekend-in-taipei-trailer-luke-evans/ . live .
- Web site: 《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 . 1 August 2024 . . 2 August 2024 . zh . 2 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802024617/https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240801ent004 . live .
- Web site: Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei to Star in Taipei-Set Action Thriller From Europacorp (EXCLUSIVE) . 21 June 2023 . . Frater . Patrick . Keslassy . Elsa . 2 August 2024 . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230703082655/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/luke-evans-gwei-lun-mei-taipei-thriller-europacorp-1235650530/ . live .
- Web site: 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 . 1 August 2024 . . 2 August 2024 . zh . 2 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802145735/https://www.marieclaire.com.tw/entertainment/movie/80781/weekend-in-taipei . live .
- Web site: French producer Virginie Besson, director Olivier Megaton plan Taipei film . 11 February 2023 . . Strong . Matthew . 2 August 2024 . 2 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802171055/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/4807233 . live .
- Web site: 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 . 10 February 2023 . . 2 August 2024 . zh . 7 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407042931/https://www.filmcommission.taipei/newsCT.aspx?id=8203&pid=62 . live .
- Web site: Luke Evans Actioner ‘Weekend In Taipei’ Produced By Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp Acquired By Ketchup Entertainment . 22 March 2024 . . Grobar . Matt . 2 August 2024 . 10 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410100509/https://deadline.com/2024/03/luke-evans-movie-weekend-in-taipei-acquired-ketchup-entertainment-1235865858/ . live .
- Web site: 'Fast Furious' star arrives for a new film project in Taipei . 8 August 2023 . . Scanlan . Sean . 2 August 2024.
- Web site: Weekend In Taipei Trailer: 2 Fast & Furious Franchise Stars Reunite In New Action Movie . 2 August 2024 . . Cassio . Jerome . 2 August 2024 . 2 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802171101/https://screenrant.com/weekend-in-taipei-movie-trailer/ . live .
- Web site: Luke Evans to film Luc Besson’s movie in Taipei . 19 June 2023 . . Chiang . Michelle . 2 August 2024 . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624050308/https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2009590 . live .
- Web site: 盧貝松再取景台灣 男主角路克伊凡斯現身台北 . 18 June 2023 . . 葉冠吟 . 2 August 2024 . zh . 7 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407044528/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/amov/202306180191.aspx . live .
- Web site: 盧貝松回來了!繼《露西》之後新片《周末在台北》再來台取景 . 12 February 2023 . . 喬偉綱 . 2 August 2024 . zh . 3 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240803124811/https://www.mypeoplevol.com/Article/44769 . live .
- Web site: 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) . 24 August 2023 . . 2 August 2024 . zh . 7 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407042919/https://tw.nextapple.com/entertainment/20230824/7865AB30AB678816C4688D8ED1AC7A87 . live .
- Web site: Plus fort que Jason Statham ? Cet acteur cogne dur dans la bande-annonce du film d'action Week-end à Taipei . 1 August 2024 . . 7 August 2024 . fr . 8 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240808170157/https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=1000095589.html . live .