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Weekend in Taipei

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Weekend in Taipei
Theatrical poster
Directed byGeorge Huang
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Production
companies
EuropaCorp
Huayu International Entertainment
Distributed by
  • EuropaCorp (France)
  • Cai Chang Asia (Taiwan)
Release dates
  • 1 September 2024 (2024-09-01) (Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi)
  • 25 September 2024 (2024-09-25) (France & Taiwan)
Running time
114 minutes
CountriesFrance
Taiwan[1]
LanguageEnglish

Weekend in Taipei is a 2024 action film directed by George Huang and co-written with Luc Besson. Starring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang, the film is a co-production between France and Taiwan. It was filmed and set in Taipei, Taiwan, centering around an American DEA agent (Evans) who reunites with a Taipei-based mercenary driver (Gwei) and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with her.

The film had its world premiere at Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi in Taipei, Taiwan on 1 September 2024, and was theatrically released in France and Taiwan on 25 September.

Premise

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John Lawlor, a committed American Drug Enforcement Administration agent, fell in love with Joey, 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.[2]

Cast

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Also appearing in the film are Andy Wu and McFly Wu as Kwang's henchmen; Janet Hsieh cameos as a woman witnessing Joey's pregnancy test in the restroom; while Allison Lin cameos as a flight attendant.[7][non-primary source needed]

Production

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Development

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In 2013, director Luc Besson and producer Virginie Besson-Silla filmed the French sci-fi film Lucy in Taiwan. The duo was impressed by the city's landscapes and asserted they would to return for another project.[8][9] In 2022, Taiwanese-American director George Huang conceived a film about a female mercenary driver set in Asia and approached Luc Besson to help develop the project.[10] Initially set in Hong Kong, the project became unavailable due to shifts in funding. Besson then suggested that Huang change the setting to Taipei.[11][12] Huang and the Bessons, along with director Olivier Megaton, went to Taipei for location scouting in February 2023,[13][8] 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.[1][13] The scout spanned fourteen days, after which Huang agreed to use Taipei as the backdrop and revised the screenplay accordingly.[11][12]

Under the working title Weekend Escape Project, the film was announced to be produced by EuropaCorp in June 2024, with Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei cast as the lead actors.[8] The film marks EuropaCorp's first production after the company's financial restructuring and a four-year hiatus.[8] Huang later also took up screenwriting duties and co-wrote the film with Besson.[14] In August, Korean-American actor Sung Kang joined the cast.[15] The distribution rights in North America were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in March 2024.[14] The official trailer was released in August 2024,[16] with Patrick Lee revealed to be part of the cast.[17] In September, Tuo Tsung-hua and Lu Yi-ching announced to star.[5]

Filming

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Principal photography began on 3 July 2023 in Taipei and was expected to span across three months,[8] with Evans arriving in Taiwan to prepare for the shoot in June.[18][19] The entire filming crew was composed of Taiwanese filmmakers.[1] Location shooting in Taipei took place at various sites, including Zhongshan Hall, Lions' Plaza Commercial Building, and Luoyang Car Park in Wanhua District; the Taipei Performing Arts Center, Shezi Bridge, and Guandu Nature Park in Shilin District; Taipei Dome, Taipei 101, and Taipei City Hall in Xinyi District; Taipei Arena in Songshan District; and Taipei Music Center in Nangang District.[20] On 15 July, Daniel Wu and Janet Hsieh were seen with the cast in Neihu District, Taipei.[21] Production moved to Keelung on 25 July, where a car chase scene was shot near Dawulun Beach,[22] as well as at the Aodi Fishing Harbor.[23] On 11 August, filming took place at the Grand Victoria Hotel in Zhongshan District.[24]

Shooting then occurred on American Street in Ximending on 22 August, with Besson and Kang spotted on set.[25] Additional scenes were captured in Datong District and Daan District, and the entire production filed a total of twelve road closure applications, including closing the Ziqiang Tunnel to film a car crash scene, making it the most applied-for film in history.[11][26] Most of the interior scenes were filmed at Marriott Taipei, where the foreign cast and crew stayed during the shoot, with the hotel mainly serving as the setting for a business tower, as well as the characters' homes and offices.[5] Filming ultimately concluded on 29 August.[27]

Release

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Weekend in Taipei had its world premiere at Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi in Taipei, Taiwan on 1 September 2024,[28] followed by a theatrical release in France and Taiwan on 25 September.[29][9] The film will be subsequently released on 8 November in North America.[16]

Reception

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Estella Huang of Mirror Media described Weekend in Taipei as a "Hollywood-level action film" that showcases Taipei's beautiful cityscape, but criticizes it for its thin storyline and underdeveloped emotional relationships, ultimately simplifying the complexity of its romantic and familial themes into basic dialogue and action sequences.[30] Berton Hsu, writing for The News Lens, considered the film as a commercially driven popcorn movie aimed at global appeal, noting that while it features Hollywood-style action and thrilling vibes, it lacks authenticity and misrepresents Taiwan with a convoluted plot.[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "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". Taipei Film Commission (in Chinese). 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Massoto, Erick (1 August 2024). "'Weekend In Taipei' Trailer Reunites Two 'Fast & Furious' Stars [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b Lee, Charlotte (30 August 2024). "Taiwan-filmed 'Weekend in Taipei' to hold red carpet event". Taiwan News. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ "《台北追緝令》看點有哪些？台灣場景變好萊塢、盧貝松式的幽默融入劇情！". Marie Claire (in Chinese). 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "《台北追緝令》赫見熟面孔　陸弈靜庹宗康與李沛旭一起打入國際市場". Mirror Media (in Chinese). 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. ^ 陳慧貞 (23 September 2024). "李沛旭參演盧貝松監製「台北追緝令」 歸零扮幫派老大". World Journal (in Chinese). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ 電影首映不搭餐 (25 September 2024). "《台北追緝令》法拉利動作爽片！好萊塢版台北女子圖鑑？辣個男人盧貝松又來了！". Dcard (in Chinese). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Frater, Patrick; Keslassy, Elsa (21 June 2023). "Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei to Star in Taipei-Set Action Thriller From Europacorp (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b "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". Marie Claire (in Chinese). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  10. ^ 魯皓平 (2 September 2024). "《台北追緝令》拍出超乎想像的台灣風景！好萊塢大場面飛車追逐令人驚豔". Global Views Monthly (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "《台北追緝令》盧貝松展現台灣風光：台北101、西門町、中山堂等名景躍上銀幕！". United Daily News (in Chinese). 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b 蕭采薇 (10 September 2024). "盧貝松10年前留下好印象！　新作《台北追緝令》全片台灣取景「讓世界看見」". ETtoday (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b Strong, Matthew (11 February 2023). "French producer Virginie Besson, director Olivier Megaton plan Taipei film". Taiwan News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  14. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (22 March 2024). "Luke Evans Actioner 'Weekend In Taipei' Produced By Luc Besson's EuropaCorp Acquired By Ketchup Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  15. ^ Scanlan, Sean (8 August 2023). "'Fast Furious' star arrives for a new film project in Taipei". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  16. ^ a b Cassio, Jerome (2 August 2024). "Weekend In Taipei Trailer: 2 Fast & Furious Franchise Stars Reunite In New Action Movie". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  17. ^ "《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". Mirror Media (in Chinese). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  18. ^ Chiang, Michelle (19 June 2023). "Luke Evans to film Luc Besson's movie in Taipei". Radio Taiwan International. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  19. ^ 葉冠吟 (18 June 2023). "盧貝松再取景台灣 男主角路克伊凡斯現身台北". China News Service (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  20. ^ 熊景玉 (10 February 2023). "盧貝松監製妻來台勘景　約定蔣萬安《週末在台北》". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  21. ^ 陳嘉玲 (15 July 2023). "捕獲野生「韓哥」！復活後與「歐文蕭」來台逛夜市　Janet作陪". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  22. ^ 熊景玉 (1 August 2023). "【獨家】【大明星踩點台灣】盧貝松挺肚指揮　路克伊凡斯外木山拍飛車直擊". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  23. ^ 麥恩 (25 September 2024). "幕後｜《台北追緝令》原本是香港追緝令，大武崙漁港是電影人夢寐以求的景色". Public Television Service (in Chinese). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  24. ^ 熊景玉 (22 August 2023). "【獨家】【街邊看好戲】內心戲難不倒影后　桂綸鎂10分鐘收服盧貝松". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  25. ^ "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）". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  26. ^ Kuo, Tigre (3 September 2024). "桂綸鎂突破性演出，韓哥、盧貝松大讚來台真對！《台北追緝令》讓好萊塢看到台北魅力". Prestige Hong Kong (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  27. ^ "《台北追緝令》盧貝松攜桂綸鎂、姜成鎬與粉絲互動 台北見面會盛況空前". United Daily News (in Chinese). 3 September 2024. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  28. ^ 江昭倫 (22 August 2024). "台灣團隊拍《台北追緝令》獲盛讚 有一點連盧貝松也喊神奇". Radio Taiwan International (in Chinese). Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Plus fort que Jason Statham ? Cet acteur cogne dur dans la bande-annonce du film d'action Week-end à Taipei". AlloCiné (in French). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  30. ^ Huang, Estella (27 September 2024). "【影評】《台北追緝令》　毒梟住陶朱隱園". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  31. ^ Hsu, Berton (26 September 2024). "【影評】滿口英文、又有劇情BUG的《台北追緝令》，看完之後到底夠不夠爽？". The News Lens (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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