Author Signs Deal for 'Peking Express' to Chug Onto Big Screen

Ever read a book so good you thought to yourself “dang, this would make a really good movie”? For fans of The Peking Express, a historical non-fiction work by Beijing-based writer James Zimmerman, this dream is about to become a reality as the book is set to be adapted for film.

The book tells the gripping – and true! – story of the Lincheng Train Incident of 1923, in which a group of bandits took China’s first all-steel passenger train and took over 300 hostages in the process. The hijacking and ensuing hostage crisis, told in detail by American author and 20+ year Beijing resident James Zimmerman, has had countless readers asking him when a movie or TV series would come out of it.

One of those readers was Beijing-based director Chen Daming, known for his films Manhole (2004) and One Foot Off the Ground (2006). Chen along with film and TV producer Chris Lee were so enthralled by the tale that they’ve made a deal with Zimmerman to put the book to film, with things expected to kick off on production this year or next.

When asked about his feelings about this development, Zimmerman told the Beijinger he was pleased to be moving forward with a film adaptation. All things considered, he continues, “it’s a long road ahead, with much work in continuing to develop the script, signing on a multinational cast of characters, scouting film locations… and so on.”

Zimmerman will be hosting an official announcement for the film, along with Chen and Lee, on Mar 22, during which we expect more details will be laid out for guests. In the meantime, we’re happy to see this Beijing-based writer sign a deal with a Beijing-based director to get The Peking Express chugging into a theater near us.

The film adaptation announcement for The Peking Express is set to take place on Friday, Mar 22 from 5-7pm at Perkins Cole LLP Beijing (address in poster above). Please RSVP to the email in the poster if you're interested in attending.

Have you read the The Peking Express? What did you think of the book? Let us know in the comments!

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Images courtesy of James Zimmerman