Beijing/Los Angeles, September 18, 2012: Seven Stars Film Studios (“SSFS”), a subsidiary of Seven Stars Entertainment Group led by Chairman Bruno Wu, announced today that world-renowned actress Gong Li (RAISE THE RED LANTERN, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA) will take the lead role in the China-US co-production of THE LAST EMPRESS. THE LAST EMPRESS tells the story of the extraordinary period of Empress Cixi’s life and her complex relationships with Emperor Guang Xu and Imperial advisor American Costa, both of whom shared a desire to modernize China. Critically, as a result of tragic misunderstandings, bloodshed ended Guang Xu’s 100 day reform, and China lost a chance of gaining a modern parliamentary monarch and hope of democracy at the time, which caused a period of violent revolutions. It was a turbulent era in modern Chinese history and the desperate fate of the characters, set within an ever-changing political landscape, creates a haunting and tense epic storyline.

THE LAST EMPRESS is set to begin production in Q4 2013 and will be dedicated to the memory of Jake Eberts, whose joint venture with Seven Stars had been developing the project.