We reported back in November that Zhang Ziyi was set to star in a new Wayne Wang film set in China and although Ziyi has left the film, a new male lead has come forward. CRI English is reporting, based off a report from Shanghai's Oriental Morning Sun newspaper, that Hugh Jackman will star as the male lead in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

It was reported that Ziyi had left the project and Li Bingbing (The Forbidden Kingdom) has replaced her and Jeon Ji-Hyun has joined the cast as well. The film is set in 19th Century China and centers on the friendship of two women and how they cope with the harsh social limitations placed on women in the era.

Wayne Wang is directing the film, based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Lisa See. Filming is slated to start today near Shanghai. It was said that Jackman would join the production in mid-February.