Chinese actress Fan Bingbing [File Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing is likely to join fellow star Zhang Ziyi in a China-South Korean romantic comedy entitled "Sophie's Revenge," Sina.com.cn reported on Wednesday.

The Chinese-language film will center on a girl named Sophie who searches for true love against a backdrop of cultural clashes. Fan Bingbing and Zhang Ziyi are being considered to play the love rivals, according to an unnamed insider.

If confirmed, the international cooperation will obviously help domestically popular Fan Bingbing expand her influence abroad.

Among Fan's few international films is "Shinjuku Incident," set in Japan and also starring Jackie Chan. The film is scheduled for release in March.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ziyi is also using "Sophie's Revenge" to expand her career beyond acting. She is making her first investment, co-financing the film, according to the Sina report.

The project was announced by South Korean company CJ Entertainment at the Pusan International Film Festival earlier this month. But Zhang is the only confirmed cast member so far.

The male lead will be decided from top Korean stars, while the director will be from China, Sina.com.cn says. Rumors suggest Chinese-American filmmaker Dayyan Eng is among the candidates.

Shooting is expected to begin in December.

(CRI October 30, 2008)