Fundamental Films Announces First Hollywood Biopic Starring Chinese Star Xin Zhilei

Shanghai- and Los-Angeles-based Fundamental Films has entered pre-production on a bilingual biopic, *Sunset Boulevard – The Anna May Wong Story*. The film follows Anna May Wong, a Chinese-American actress who rose in the 1920s-30s and appeared in *The Thief of Bagdad* and *Shanghai Express*. Xin Zhilei, winner of the 2025 Venice Film Festival Best Actress award, will portray Wong. The screenplay is by Brant Boivin and Jonathan Keasey; Fundamental Films is financing and producing.

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Wong challenged stereotypical depictions of Asian women in early Hollywood and remains a symbol of cultural resilience. Xin Zhilei’s Venice accolade marks the first Chinese woman to win Best Actress in fourteen years, mirroring Wong’s ascent from modest origins to global recognition.

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Fundamental Films, known for co-productions such as *Lucy* and *Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets*, will recreate Golden-Age Hollywood sets. Mark Gao, founder and chairman, leads the project. Xin Zhilei brings experience from *Crosscurrent*, *The Unseen Sister* and *Blossoms Shanghai*.

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• Anna May Wong appeared in landmark films *The Thief of Bagdad* and *Shanghai Express*.

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• Xin Zhilei won the 2025 Venice Film Festival Best Actress award for *The Sun Rises On Us All*, first Chinese woman to receive the honor in fourteen years.

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• Fundamental Films co-produced *Lucy*, *The Transporter Refueled*, *Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets*, and *Replicas*.

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Xin Zhilei said Wong’s story “deeply moves” her and praised the actress’s cultural commitment and advocacy for women. Mark Gao highlighted the parallel between Xin’s career and Wong’s pioneering achievements, describing the film as a vehicle to “bring Anna May Wong’s story back from the edges of history” and to show that Chinese artists have long been part of Hollywood.

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• “Xin Zhilei said: “Anna May Wong’s story deeply moves me.” — Xin Zhilei, Actress

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• “She remained true to her cultural roots and was determined to follow her own path, while also speaking up for other women.” — Xin Zhilei

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• “ Fundamental Films’ Founder and Chairman Mark Gao added: “Xin Zhilei’s remarkable career very much echoes Anna May Wong’s own ascent and groundbreaking achievements, which makes her perfect for this role.” — Mark Gao, Founder & Chairman, Fundamental Films

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• “We hope this film will bring Anna May Wong’s story back from the edges of history and remind the world that Chinese artists were never absent from Hollywood history and continue to be part of its future.” — Mark Gao

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The biopic restores a marginalized pioneer, underscoring Chinese contributions to early Hollywood and expanding Asian-American representation.

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Fundamental Films will present the project at Cannes to secure distribution; filming dates and release schedule remain undisclosed.

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