
Michelle Yeoh leads the cast of The Surgeon
Michelle Yeoh is to star in action movie 'The Surgeon'.
The 62-year-old actress has signed up to star in the flick that is being produced by Thunder Road, the company behind the 'John Wick' franchise.
The movie follows a retired surgeon (Yeoh), who is abducted and forced to operate on a mystery patient.
Although she is heavily outnumbered, her captors have overlooked the greatest weapon she has – 35 years of surgical experience, leading to an explosive and brutal confrontation in which she outwits and cuts down her enemies in a visual style unlike anything seen before.
It is hoped that the flick could mark the beginning of a franchise.
Roshan Sethi, a physician and co-creator of the medical drama series 'The Resident', is writing and directing the film - which is being produced by Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for Thunder Road together with John Schoenfelder and Russell Ackerman for NeoText.
Patrick Wachsberger and Legendary JV's 193 will launch sales on the project at the Cannes market.
Sethi said: "I'm so excited to bring something brand new and innovative to the action genre based heavily on my medical background.
"I cannot think of a better partner than Michelle, the iconic queen of action who will be using her skills in a different and surprising way in this film, and the producing teams at Thunder Road, 193 and NeoText."
Iwanyk added: "Roshin wrote an incredibly complex and compelling character that was able to excite one of the world's greatest actresses in Michelle Yeoh. I can't wait to see what that collaboration cooks up.
"And to work again with Patrick, who was so instrumental in getting the 'John Wick' and 'Sicario' franchises made, is a great thrill for Thunder Road."
Michelle played the role of Madame Morrible in the movie adaptation of 'Wicked' but confessed that she had never heard of the hit stage musical before being asked to join the cast by director Jon M. Chu.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning actress said: "At that point I had no clue what he was talking about because I had not seen 'Wicked' the musical before. I knew 'Wizard of Oz', who doesn't, but not 'Wicked' because I hadn't been going to the theatres and not doing what I love which is watching musicals, for quite a while I hate to say."
Yeoh's character sings in the film, but she explained that she was "terrified" about using her vocals onscreen for the first time.
The 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' star said: "I was terrified, I was not just nervous ... The process of exercising, learning to use the muscles in a different way, was actually very, very good for me because it helps with my voice as an actor. So I had fun."
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