Weekend In Taipei

''Weekend in Taipei'' is a 2024 French action film directed by George Huang and co-written with Luc Besson. Starring Luke Evans, Gwei Lun-mei, and Sung Kang, the film was filmed and set in Taiwan. It centers around an American DEA agent, John Lawlor (Evans), who reunites with a Taipei-based mercenary driver, Joey Kwang (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 is set to release theatrically in France and Taiwan on 25 September.

Premise

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

Cast

* Luke Evans as John Lawlor, an American DEA agent
* Gwei Lun-mei as Joey Kwang, a top Taipei-based "transporter"
* Sung Kang as the leader of a drug cartel
* Patrick Lee as a drug cartel hitman
* Wyatt Yang as Kwang's son

Production

Development

In 2013, director Luc Besson and producer Virginie Besson-Silla filmed the French sci-fi film '' Lucy'' in Taiwan. The duo were impressed by the Taiwanese cityscapes and promised to return to Taiwan to shoot another film. Luc and Virginie Besson subsequently developed a screenplay set in Taipei and pre-production of the project began in February 2023. The Bessons, along with director Olivier Megaton, went to Taipei for location scouting in the same month 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. Initially titled ''Weekend Escape Project'', the film was announced to be produced by EuropaCorp in June 2024, with George Huang brought on as the director, while Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei were cast as the lead actors. The film marks EuropaCorp's first production after the company's financial restructuring and a four-year hiatus. Huang later also took up screenwriting duties and co-wrote the film with Besson. In August, Korean-American actor Sung Kang joined the cast. The distribution rights in North America were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in March 2024. The official trailer was released in August 2024.

Filming

Principal photography began on 3 July 2023 in Taipei, with Evans arriving in Taiwan to prepare for the shoot in June. The entire filming crew was composed of Taiwanese filmmakers. Filming was expected to span across three months, with location shooting taking place at Zhongshan Hall, Taipei Performing Arts Center, Taipei Dome, Taipei Music Center, and Taipei City Hall. Filming also took place at the American Street of Ximending on 22 August, with Besson and Kang spotted on set.

Release

''Weekend in Taipei'' had its world premiere at Vieshow Cinemas Xinyi in Taipei, Taiwan on 1 September 2024, followed by a theatrical release in France and Taiwan on 25 September. The film will be subsequently released on 10 November in North America.

References

External links

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{{Luc Besson
2024 films
2024 action films
French action films
English-language French films
Films set in Taipei
Films shot in Taipei
EuropaCorp films
Films directed by Luc Besson
Films about drugs
Films about interracial romance