Troubled Zhang Ziyi locks lead role in Gu Changwei's film
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Scandal-plagued actress Zhang Ziyi will get a chance to salvage her career as art-house film director Gu Changwei has offered her the lead role in his upcoming drama, "The Era of Magic."
Not only set to act alongside Hong Kong actor/singer Aaron Kwok, Zhang will also be producer of the movie, her second time at the helm following 2009 romantic comedy "Sophie's Revenge."
Director Gu reportedly contacted Zhang last August while he was preparing for his film.
But the move in film does little to stop the series of scandals embroiling Zhang Ziyi. The star was removed from the invitation list of an April ceremony that's going to honor the top-ranking Chinese celebs from a public approval poll, although she ranked among the top spots of the 2009 poll. What's worse, the judge panel is considering crossing her name off the ballot given her deteriorating reputation.
Just a couple of days ago, news came that luxury brand Emporio Armani broke off its endorsement deal with Zhang Ziyi when the negative influence of her "quake donation fund fraud" escalated. Only a month after Zhang was reported owing 160,000 yuan for her 1-million-yuan pledge toward Wenchuan earthquake relief, a new rumor surfaced that she had cheated the public with her fundraising activities held in Cannes and New York in 2008.
Zhang's troubles started in December 2009, when a Beijing-based publication reported that she had a "special relationship" with a married businessman in Shanghai. In the wake of that scandal, Zhang quit the film "Snow Flower and The Secret Fan," a project she had planned to star in for a long time.
