High-flying star ... Jackie Chan stars in Jian Guo Da Ye (The Founding of a Republic) Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar
Many of Chinese cinema's biggest names have taken part in a state-funded epic celebrating the 60th anniversary of the country's communist revolution.
Actors Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi and Stephen Chow appear in Jian Guo Da Ye, (The Founding of a Republic) alongside directors Chen Kaige and John Woo – although Woo's role ended up being seen only in a trailer, Associated Press reports. The film will be released in China on 17 September ahead of the anniversary itself on 1 October.
Most of the stars' roles are very small – Chan reportedly has a few lines, Zhang Ziyi plays an unidentified cultural apparatchik, Kaige pops up briefly as an enemy general – leading to suggestions that the casting is a publicity stunt, aimed at bringing more youthful audiences to propaganda material that they would normally snub. This would represent a new level of engagement with youth culture on the authorities' part.
Some describe the participation as a personal favour. "Everyone has to show their respect if Grandpa San asks," said Woo's producing partner Terence Chang, referring to Han Sanping, chairman of the state-run China Film Group and co-director with Huang Jianxin of The Founding of a Republic.
But with China's film industry on the rise, such lip-service could be a prudent career move. The country's box office takings leapt 30% to 4.3bn yuan (£385m) last year and directors such as Woo have recently returned to mainland production. Some Chinese people, however, have questioned their patriotism.
Made for less than $10m (£6m), according to China Film Group, The Founding of a Republic will open with 2,000 prints – enough for nearly half of China's 4,100 screens. The film's trailers suggest a slick, grand-scale production.
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