Xin Zhilei is officially stepping into Hollywood with her first major international leading role.
According to reports confirmed by Fundamental Films, the acclaimed Chinese actress will portray legendary Hollywood pioneer Anna May Wong in the upcoming biographical film Sunset Boulevard: The Anna May Wong Story.
The announcement arrived just ahead of the 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival and immediately generated strong reactions across Asian film communities.
The project marks a significant turning point in Xin Zhilei’s career, coming only months after she reportedly became the first Chinese actress in 14 years to win Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival.
Industry observers believe Xin Zhilei is a fitting choice not only because of her acting range, but also because her personal journey mirrors aspects of Anna May Wong’s story.
Born into a working-class family in Hegang, China, Xin spent years building her career through supporting roles before eventually emerging as one of the strongest actresses of her generation through acclaimed film and television performances.
Following the success of The Sun Rises On Us All at Venice last year, she has increasingly been viewed as a rare actress capable of balancing artistic credibility with mainstream popularity.
Anna May Wong, born Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles in 1905, is widely regarded as the first Asian American movie star in Hollywood history.
She became the first Asian woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and broke barriers during an era when Asian performers faced severe discrimination and stereotypical casting in American cinema.
Despite those obstacles, Wong established herself through classic films including The Thief of Bagdad and Shanghai Express, becoming a lasting symbol of Asian representation during Hollywood’s golden age.
According to production details, the film will chronicle Anna May Wong’s journey from the daughter of Chinese immigrants to an internationally recognized screen icon.
The movie is planned as a bilingual English-Chinese production and will recreate the atmosphere of 1920s and 1930s Hollywood with large-scale period sets and classic cinematic styling.
Xin Zhilei stated in an international press release that she was deeply inspired by Wong’s determination to preserve her cultural identity while navigating prejudice and exclusion.
“What moved me most is that she never stepped back in the face of doubt or racial barriers,” the actress reportedly shared.
The film is currently being introduced to international distributors during Cannes, with early industry speculation suggesting it could become one of the most notable Asian film projects in development.
Producer Mark Gao explained that the film is intended not only as a biopic, but also as a reminder that Chinese and Asian artists have always been part of Hollywood history.
For Xin Zhilei, the role represents the biggest challenge of her career so far — requiring performance work in two languages while portraying one of the most iconic Asian figures in film history.
With this project, her career appears poised to move far beyond the boundaries of Chinese-language cinema.
Sources: Saostar