If you haven’t heard, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) is currently in Malaysia filming for her upcoming movie with Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun (張吉安). The film, titled “Mother Bhumi (tentatively 地母)”, is set to premiere in the second half of 2025, and it’s already getting a lot of attention from fans and movie critics alike.
Recently, Variety magazine reported more details about the upcoming release. According to reports, the film centres on a community of farmers living on the Malaysia-Thailand border. Fan Bingbing will play the main character, Hong Im, a farmer who uses black magic to address the villagers’ everyday issues. After losing her husband under mysterious circumstances, Hong Im then encounters a ghost that reveals a secret about her husband’s death.
From the short synopsis alone, it’s clear that the movie has a lot of depth and will take a lot for Fan Bingbing to get into her character. According to China Press, the actress had even gained around 5kg for her role as a farmer and a mother. Taiwanese actor Bai Run-yin (白潤音) and Hong Kong actress Natalie Hsu (許恩怡) will also join the cast, playing Hong Im’s son and daughter, respectively. This project is also Natalie’s second time working with Chong Keat Aun, after her appearance in his soon-to-release film, “Pavane For An Infant (摇篮凡世)”.
“Mother Bhumi” is a joint production between Malaysian studio Janji Pictures and Taiwan-based Italian production company Volos Film Italia. Janji Pictures also produced Chong Keat Aun’s earlier features, including his award-winning film, “Snow In Midsummer (五月雪)”. The movie is currently in production, and the cast and crew will conclude filming in November. The production company also shared a preview of the film, teasing Fan Bingbing’s transformation for her role.
We’re already excited to see Chong Keat Aun work his magic with Fan Bingbing, Bai Run-yin and Natalie Hsu. What are your thoughts on “Mother Bhumi” so far? Are you looking forward to seeing it on the big screen?
Sources: Variety, China Press
