Fan Bingbing lands lead role with Jason Stathom in shark thriller 'Meg'

Fan Bing Bing will presumably play one of the lead characters, Dr. Zhang Suyin, in the movie.

The highly anticipated shark thriller movie 'Meg' has finally found its leading lady. Chinese actress and Pop star Fan Bing Bing will join Fast and Furious actor Jason Statham, who playing the lead role.

The creature feature, which is set for release in 2018, is adapted from Steve Alten's novel titled 'Meg'. Reportedly, the adaptation has been in the works from a long time now, but the budget has been a matter of worry time and again. However, it has been revealed that 'Meg' will be co - financed by China's Gravity pictures along with Warner Bros.

If the rumours are to be believed, the involvement of Chinese financers might be the reason of Fan Bing Bing's casting. The reports also stated that the movie, which was supposed to be shot in California, has now shifted its location to China. Fan Bing Bing will presumably play one of the lead characters, Dr. Zhang Suyin, in the movie.

Talking about the plot, the studio's synopsis reads as below, according to Hollywood Reporter.

"An international underwater observation program, led by Chinese scientists, is under attack by an unknown danger, and its deep-sea submersible lies disabled and trapped at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. With time running out, former Naval Captain and expert deep sea diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited by Dr. Zhang Suyin, lead oceanographer of the program, for what is likely a suicide mission.

Years before, Taylor had encountered this same terrifying threat, which forced him to abort his mission and abandon half his crew, resulting in disgrace and a dishonorable discharge. Now, Taylor must confront his fears and risk his own life to save everyone trapped below ... bringing him face to face once more with the apex predator of all time."

Fan's next English-language movie is Skiptrace. The Hong Kong-Chinese-American action comedy film, which was set for release in 2015 will now hit the big screen on July 22, 2016. The movie starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville is directed by Renny Harlin.