Stocking Asian titles

By PATRICK FRATER, Mon., Nov. 7, 2005, 5:47pm PT




The Weinstein Co. continued its Asian crusade at AFM on Monday. It is in advanced talks to acquire North American rights to "Infernal Affairs" parts two and three, and Chinese-language library titles from sales agent Media Asia.
The "Infernal Affairs" pics are the sequel and prequel to 2002 Hong Kong police actioner "Infernal Affairs," by the helming duo of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. That movie was released in North America by Miramax.

Miramax had an option over the second and third episodes, and Weinstein is stepping up after that option was not exercised. "There is not a firm commitment to a theatrical release, but we are talking about a good price and obviously hope that Weinstein will release it in theaters," said Jeffrey Chan, head of sales at Media Asia, which co-produced the pics.

Deal does not include remake rights to any of the three pics. Remake rights were acquired by Warner Bros. for Brad Pitt's Plan B to produce. Boston-set remake "The Departed," helmed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson, is in post-production.

Weinstein also is acquiring "A Chinese Odyssey" and "A Chinese Odyssey Part Two -- Cinderella," two Jeffrey Lau-helmed fantasy actioners starring Stephen Chow. Weinstein topper Harvey Weinstein has a longstanding relationship with Chow, who helmed and starred in the Miramax-distributed "Shaolin Soccer."