Chow Yun-Fat to play Confucius in film

BEIJING, March 16 (UPI) -- Chow Yun-Fat has been cast as the famous philosopher Confucius in a new film financed by the Chinese government, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported.

The bio-picture about the oft-quoted Confucius, who lived in about 500 B.C., is slated to begin shooting in three weeks. A release date has not been announced, the British broadcaster said.

Chow Yun-Fat's film credits include "A Better Tomorrow," "The Killer," "Hard-Boiled," "Anna and the King," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." The Hong Kong-born actor will soon be seen in the movie "Dragonball Evolution."