Lawsuit Claims Director Wayne Wang Walked Away From 'Chinese-English Dictionary' Film

Wayne Wang, the acclaimed director of such films as The Joy Luck Club, Smoke and Maid in Manhattan, is being sued for allegedly walking away from a film project.

According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday by Das Films, Wang was set to direct a new film entitled A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers.

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The film is based on the novel of prize-winning Chinese author Xiaolu Guo, who tells the story of a Chinese student in London who changes her name to "Z" so people can pronounce her name and sparks a love affair with an English man without a name.

The adaptation now has no director, according to the suit.

Das Films is suing Wang's production company for breaching a 2008 agreement to provide his services. The walk-out is alleged to have jeopardized Das Films' ability to obtain financing and produce, sell, and distribute the film, causing more than $200,000 in lost profits.

“Mr. Wang views the lawsuit as being completely without merit,” says his attorney George Hayum.

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