By Ana La O

Wong Kar-Wai teams up with Norah Jones; Brokeback's DVD release date pushed up; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon makes its Broadway debut. This and much more in the latest edition of News Bites.

Kung Fu hits Broadway

Kung-fu has already found a home in Hollywood. In a few years, it will make its way to Broadway. Harvey and Bob Weinstein are developing an epic stage adaptation of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Elephant Eye Theatricals is planning a musical entitled, Bruce Lee: Journey to the West, written by Tony Award-winner David Henry Hwang. While the Weinstein adaptation is already building excitement with its plans for Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics, the more traditional Elephant Eye project is gaining hype from a recent rumor -- rock star David Bowie may compose the musical. Judging from the popularity of the Asian-themed Cirque du Soleil show, Ka, these theatre productions are bound to have successful openings.

Brits lead Wong-Kar Wai's American debut

Acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai recently cast British actor Jude Law and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz to star in his first English film My Blueberry Night. Heavyweights Law and Weisz join a cast that includes Grammy award-winner and silver-screen rookie Norah Jones. Although Wong previously expressed his interest in creating a film about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, My Blueberry Night will not cover any Katrina-related issues. Instead, the film will be a road movie that sprawls across multiple locations from California to New York. My Blueberry Night begins production in June.

Asian Angelinos on the Mercedes Runway

Last week, some of the brightest up-and-coming local Asian designers presented their fall 2006 collections at Mercedes Benz Fashion week in Los Angeles. Alan Del Rosario, Sue Wong, and Kelly Nishimoto are just a few. While Los Angeles Fashion Week has yet to acquire the high profile of New York or Paris Fashion Week, this year's glitzy event still attracted stars like Courtney Love, Christina Aguilera, The Red Hot Chili Peppers' Antony Kiedis, and Cher. Mercedes Fashion week ran from March 19 to March 23rd. To view this year's collections, check out the event's website at www.mercedesbenzfashionweek.com.

Brokeback breaks the rules again

Thanks to the recent Oscar hype, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is now rushing the DVD release of Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain to April 4th. This early DVD release date is notable since it overlaps with the film's theatrical run and allows for a mere two-week window between the announcement and actual release date. It's a fittingly unconventional plan for the groundbreaking gay cowboy romance. The DVD will include a profile on director Ang Lee, interviews with screenwriters Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossna, and a documentary following Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall's preparations for the film.

Karen O makes a Golden comeback

On March 28th, the Brooklyn-based rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their highly anticipated follow up album Show Your Bones. The artsy trio first broke into the mainstream with the infectious single "Maps" from their 2003 release Fever to Tell. Since Fever to Tell, the band has traded in its violent, sexually charged approach for a more subdued sound that's won praises from Rollingstone and NME alike. But don't worry: half-Korean front-woman Karen O still serves up her notorious ultra-sultry, ultra-addicting wails. Just check out the band's new single, "Gold Lion."

Published: Thursday, March 30, 2006