Xin Zhilei, who recently won the Best Actress award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, has signed on to portray the trailblazing actress Anna May Wong. The upcoming biographical film, titled Sunset Boulevard – The Anna May Wong Story, is being financed and produced by Fundamental Films, a production house based in Shanghai and Los Angeles.
The bilingual project, which will feature both English and Mandarin dialogue, is currently in pre-production. The script, written by Brant Boivin and Jonathan Keasey, tracks Wong’s life from her childhood in Los Angeles as a third-generation Chinese American to her rise as an international screen icon.
Defying Hollywood Stereotypes
Born into modest circumstances in the early days of cinema, Wong spent the 1920s and 1930s fighting against the restrictive, stereotypical roles assigned to Asian actors in western media. Despite these systemic barriers, she secured prominent roles in era-defining features, including The Thief of Bagdad alongside Douglas Fairbanks and Shanghai Express opposite Marlene Dietrich.
The producers note that the film intends to recreate the lavish aesthetic of these classic studio sets. For Fundamental Films, the project serves to highlight the historic presence of Chinese artists in early American cinema. Mark Gao, the founder and chairman of Fundamental Films, stated that the movie aims to bring Wong’s legacy back from the edges of history.
Read more: ‘Unmasking Anna May Wong’: Trailblazing Hollywood Icon Celebrated at Chinese American Museum
The selection of Xin Zhilei has drawn attention due to the similarities between her career trajectory and Wong’s own life. Both women grew up in working-class environments and built their careers from the ground up, moving between television, film, and theatre before gaining international recognition.
Xin’s victory at Venice last year for her role in The Sun Rises On Us All marked the first time a Chinese actress had claimed the prize in fourteen years. Her previous credits include Wong Kar-wai’s television series Blossoms Shanghai and the lead role in the Chinese theatrical adaptation of the one-woman play Prima Facie.
A Tribute to Resilience
“Anna May Wong’s story deeply moves me,” Xin said regarding her casting. “She remained true to her cultural roots and was determined to follow her own path, while also speaking up for other women.” The actress expressed hope that the film would serve as a reminder of Wong’s intelligence and ambition.
Fundamental Films is introducing the biopic to international buyers at the Cannes Film Market this week. Known for its involvement in global co-productions like Lucy, the company views this feature as a key part of its strategy to bring culturally significant Chinese stories to a worldwide audience.
View this post on Instagram
