China cancels Weinstein film permit

Harvey Weinstein's new film Shanghai is one of the latest productions to fall foul of Chinese strictures following the row over Lust Caution. The film’s young star Tang Wei (above) was blacklisted because her role in Ang Lee’s 1940s Shanghai spy thriller. Like Lust Caution, Shanghai, a $50m production which stars John Cusack, Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat, is also set in Shanghai during the same era.

Weinstein was hoping to make the film in Shanghai but has now been forced to scour Southeast Asia for substitute locations. "After spending three months in Shanghai doing pre-production, China decided they didn't want us there. They took our permit away," Weinstein said. ·