What is the fate of '355' and other projects? – Variety

Since the disappearance of Fan Bingbing in July, rumors have circulated that China's most prominent actress was no longer at liberty, either in prison or in residence following a scandal in wages and salaries. tax fraud.

Neither his representatives nor the Chinese authorities comment on the unusual absence of Fan. But the questions that weigh on her fate are beginning to cast a cloud over the projects she is involved in, including the high-profile action movie "355" and the luxury brands that demanded the hiring of spokespeople.

"355", produced by Jessica Chastain, was the best selling project in Cannes this year. (Fan and Chastain are friends since their collaboration with the jury of Cannes in 2017.) Sources close to the production tell Variety that it is not necessary to rethink again because filming is not planned until mid-2019. But we do not know if "355" can go ahead without Fan. She is not an investor, but the release of the main Chinese star of the film could lead to the loss of the $ 20 million pre-sale film to Huayi Bros.

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Among Fan's previous credits are "X-Men: Days of Future Past", "Iron Man 3" and "I Am Not Madame Bovary".

Fan has also been the public face of brands such as Montblanc, Louis Vuitton, De Beers and the Guerlain Sewing House. Until now, only Montblanc would have broken ties with Fan, but she was remarkably absent from other campaigns. Guilt by association is particularly worrying in China, where government discontent can quickly undermine a person's or company's prospects.

Fan seems to have been the subject of further examination after leaked documents appeared to show that she was using "yin-yang" contracts, in which double contracts are issued for the same job , but only the lower value is declared to the tax authorities. Fan denied the allegations, but she has not been seen in public since her July 1 visit to a children's hospital and her social media accounts have been silent.

The Chinese tax authorities have ordered an investigation into the use of yin-yang contracts. The communist government has the habit of dismantling public figures as a warning to other great porters and the general public. In 2002, the actress Liu Xiaoqing was sentenced to one year in prison for tax evasion.

As for the government agency that could investigate and even hold Fan, speculation has varied a lot. In addition to the tax authorities, the public administration of foreign exchange could be interested in it. Other rich personalities have been accused in recent years of exchange rate violations when they transferred some of their money abroad.

Or, the State Administration of the press release Radio Film and Television, which oversees the entertainment industry, could have forced the door to reduce the crackdown on celebrity crimes. At the beginning of the year, the agency was placed under the direct control of the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party.

Other possibilities include the authorities in Jiangsu Province, where Wuxi Studios and Xinjiang Province are located, where Khorgos, a town not far from the border with Kazakhstan, has become home to several film companies. Both places offer tax rates well below the highest rate of 45% payroll tax. Fan, whose annual earning power is estimated at between $ 30 and $ 40 million, is reportedly held by the Khorgos.

Representatives from Fan's Studio, Fan's management company, and CAA in Los Angeles refused to comment on the status of the star and her whereabouts.

The entertainment industry has reacted independently to the scandal and the specter of government repression. Since Fan's disappearance, television programs have capped their payments to celebrities, and the major production companies have signed an industry pact setting ceilings for appearance rights and the proportion of the budget for a series that can be awarded. to the best actors.

The actions of many major Chinese entertainment companies have lost their value in recent weeks. Some, such as Huayi Bros., down 36% since June 1, are directly attributable to links with the tax evasion scandal. Others fear contagion and fear that the sector will be further polled and regulated.