Chinese director Zhang Jizhong recently said he is planning to launch a public selection of leading actors for his new version of the "Monkey King" TV series.

Zhang Jizhong told a journalist with the West China City Daily that funds have been in right place for the TV series, but that he still has trouble finding suitable actors. Thus, he plans to select the four leading characters from the public around July or August.

The new TV series is budgeted at 100 million yuan (US$12.99 million). It is thus the most expensive Chinese TV series to date.

The four leading characters include: Sun Wukong the Monkey King, Zhu Bajie the Pig, Sha Seng the Sand Monk with the big-beard, and their master, the Tang Monk, Xuan Zang.

Zhang Jizhong suggests that the actor wanting to play the role of Sun Wukong should be around 1.6 meters high.

As China's top authority for radio, film and television has formally banned all film and television shootings at natural reserves and scenic areas, Zhang Jizhong plans to build a Monkey-King themed park as the location for shooting.

When the shooting is finished, the park will be opened to the public.

Zhang Jizhong has also described his project as "a Chinese Lord of the Rings", using the latest high-technology and 3D animation production techniques.

"The new version of the Monkey King will show the Chinese magical hero Sun Wukong to audience in China and worldwide," he said.

The "Monkey King" story, known to Chinese as the Journey to the West, is a renowned classical Chinese fiction, the allegorical rendition of the true story of the famous Chinese monk Xuan Zang. After years of trials and tribulations, he traveled on foot to the birthplace of Buddhism and fetched the Sutra, the Buddhist holy book.

(CRI.cn May 6, 2007)