Since getting applauded around the world for her role in Clean in 2004, Maggie Cheung had been going in a period of semi-retirement these last few years. She could be glimpsed for about three seconds in 2046 and seen in Ashes of Time Redux, but as far as a real new role… nothing. Even as a big fan, I wouldn’t want Maggie wasting her time in any insipid American romantic comedy or some such unworthy project. Well, we can now rejoice with the announcement that she has been cast in Quentin Tarantino’s next high profile movie, Inglorious Basterds, a more of less remake of a 1978 Enzo G. Castellari war a with another spelling (mainly Inglorious Bastards but the original title remains Quel maledetto treno blindato).

Maggie is hired to play Madame Mimieux, a Chinese woman living in France (?) during WWII, who runs a cinema theater that secretly hides Jewish refugees. Interestingly, that role was first destined to French actress Isabelle Huppert. The cast also includes Brad Pitt and Mike Myers, among many other interesting names.

One of my biggest cinema tragedies remains the cancellation of Christophe Gans’ Bob Morane, where Maggie Cheung was destined to play Miss Ylang-Ylang, with Vincent Cassel in the title role. Alas, it was not meant to be.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what movie poster would you want awkwardly stuck on a coconut tree to accompany you until the end of days? In my case, simple:

An exemplary action movie starring three marvelous actresses (Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung) as fascinating super-heroines. This could be my favorite movie poster of all time. I will be revisiting The Heroic Trio in depth in the near future, so stay tuned.

Today Asia Argento turns 32, Maggie Cheung 43, Brinke Stevens 53, Dany Carrel 75. Best wishes to this amazing quartet!