Legendary writer Eileen Chang's famous novel "Red Rose, White Rose" is set to be adapted into a TV drama after a film production company obtained the copyright of the story. Of Chang's well-known novels, "Red Rose, White Rose" is the last to make it to the small screen.

Stanley Kwan' film version of "Red Rose, White Rose" starring Joan Chan, Winston Chao and Veronica Yip[frostar.com]

 

Screenwriter Wang Wanping, the woman behind hit Chinese TV series such as "Golden Marriage" and "Tian Mimi," is slated to write the television drama.

Though the cast has not yet been confirmed, the project is already a hot seller among several leading domestic TV networks.

Published in 1944, "Red Rose, White Rose" tells the story of Zhenbao, a married man who is tangled up in an affair with his mistress against the backdrop of 1940s Shanghai.

The works of Eileen Chang (1920~1995), an icon of China's contemporary literature, have been frequent material for modern-day film and TV features. The best-known adaptations include the 2002 TV drama "Eighteen Springs," Ang Lee's award-winning 2007 film, "Lust, Caution," and 2009's hit television drama "Love in a Fallen City."

"Red Rose, White Rose" was first adapted into a film of the same name in 1995 by Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan. The film, starring Taiwan actor Winston Chao and mainland actress Joan Chen, was then a critically acclaimed hit and earned five honors at that year's Golden Horse Film Awards.

The "Rose" story was also adapted for the stage in 2007.