Zhang Ziyi does "Mulan" and "Samurai" remakes

"Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Rush Hour 2" starlet Zhang Ziyi is in negotiations with The Weinstein Co. to star in three pictures for them reports the trades.

The first would be the $20 million live-action biopic "Mulan", scheduled to begin filming in February. Scripted by Wang Hui-ling ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), it's based on a Chinese folk tale of a female resistance fighter who disguises herself as her father to take his place in battle. Disney made "Mulan" into a successful animated feature in 1998.

The second is said to be a remake of Akira Kurosawa's legendary 1954 classic "The Seven Samurai" in which she'll play peasant girl who hides from bandits in boy's clothes. No writer, director or co-star is yet signed to that project. While talks between Zhang and Weinstein Co. began over a month ago, the deal is far from finalised.