Since 2000, acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar-wai has only directed four feature films. However, when one of them is “In the Mood for Love,” you can forgive the director’s lack of output. The 2000 feature is often regarded as not just one of the best films of the last two decades, but also one of the best films, period. And since the release of that film, Wong has followed it up with a sequel, titled “2046,” in 2004, which also received critical acclaim. And it appears that for his next film, “Blossoms,” the writer-director is going to end his incredible trilogy.
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According to outlet Ming Pao (via Coconuts), Wong says his next film will be the long-in-development “Blossoms” and that the film will tie into the aforementioned duo of films. “Blossoms” is based on the 2013 novel by Jin Yucheng, and will be set in Shanghai. The novel follows the story of three men from Shanghai from the 1960s all the way until the 1990s. The specific ways this new film will connect with ‘In the Mood’ and “2046” is not yet known.
“I’ve filmed a lot in Hong Kong. I’m from Shanghai, and I’ve never filmed in Shanghai, so I wanted to give it a try,” Wong said. “‘Blossoms’ would be the third part of ‘In The Mood For Love’ and ‘2046.’”
Wong is said to have started work on the script for “Blossoms” all the way back in 2015, and says he’ll finally be finished with the writing this year. If that happens, the filmmaker expects that filming could begin as early as later this year, or early 2020.
Despite reports to the contrary, which happens when projects are rumored to be in development for years, the filmmaker confirms that no casting has been done, yet, saying, “No actors have been cast yet, and they need to be able to speak Shanghainese.”
Wong was specifically asked about actor Tony Leung, who portrayed Chow Mo-wan in the previous two films. The filmmaker said he would invite the actor back, but on one condition, “If he can speak Shanghainese, then sure he can.”
You can watch the trailers for Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love” and “2046” below: