BEIJING : "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" may have lost its female lead and producer, Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, but the film has gained a boost in star power in the form of Hollywood star Hugh Jackman.

The "Wolverine" actor joins the Wayne Wang-directed English drama as the male lead after a member of the now defunct Taiwanese band F4 reportedly pulled out.

This will be the Australian actor's first project in China.

Chinese actress Li Bingbing replaces Zhang, who dropped out from the film last week to focus on filming martial arts movie "The Grand Master". 30-year-old Zhang was to co-produce "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" with Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan.

South Korean actress Jeon Ji-Hyun ("Blood: The Last Vampire"), who was previously reported to have withdrawn along with Zhang, remains in the cast.

Filming for "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", an English-language film adaptation of Lisa See's novel of the same name, about the lifelong friendship between two women in 19th century China, kicked off Tuesday in Shanghai.

According to local reports, Jackman will join the cast later in the month.

- CNA/il