Christian Bale gets back to his roots!

Actor Christian Bale (Empire of the Sun) is headed to China to star in Nanjing Heroes, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Director Zhang Yimou, the man behind China’s opening ceremonies at the 2008 Olympic Games and Hero starring Jet Li, cast Bale after he was impressed with the actor’s knowledge of the so-called “Rape of Nanjing,” the 1937 massacre of Chinese citizens by Japaneses troops on which the film is based.

“I met Christian in America and was impressed with his serious book research for the role,” Zhang told reporters at a press conference. The director added that the film will be financed entirely by Chinese investors, and that foreign distribution rights have not yet been decided.

Previously, Sony handled American distribution for Zhang’s films, but the company is not expected to be involved this time around. I wonder why? Oh, right! That whole “brutal Japaneses massacre of Chinese civilians” thing. Never mind. (Latino Review)

We told you in July about Zhang Yimou’s plan to remake Blood Simple. And in record time we have a trailer for the House of Flying Daggers director’s take on the Coen Brother’s classic. It seems like something may have been lost in translation.

Looks cuckoo-bananas to us Americans but this is business as usual for Asian audiences. To make matters far crazier, Yahoo also reports that this version will include 100% more rap than the original. They are reporting that Yimou himself has written a rap theme for the film and that he recently performed it on Chinese state television. So, an accomplished filmmaker has diverted from his career path to pursue rap at the risk of embarassing himself. Tread carefully Zhang Yimou. You don’t want Joaquin Pheonix getting in your ass. (Yahoo)