Casting for director Nguyen Quang Dung’s remake of the Hollywood rom-com 50 First Dates began on Monday in HCM City.

Director Nguyen Quang Dung (right) works with his actresses in South Korean remake Sunny. — Photo vnexpress.net

Directed by Peter Segal, the film’s turnover hit US$196.3 million from the American box office and international box office.

50 First Dates is a love story between Henry a veterinarian and Lucy, an artist who suffers short-term memory loss. The Vietnamese version will be set in a coastal resort where the male leader works, with the female lead a primary school teacher.

Casting will be held from May 21 to 31. This is the first time a Hollywood film is being remade in Viet Nam as co-operation between Vietnamese Galaxy M&E Studio and Sony Pictures Studio. The film is set for release in 2019.

“I’m interested in this project because of the interesting script and inspiring characters," said director Dung.

This is the second remake by Dung. His first was the South Korean remake Sunny which was released in March, with turnover of VNĐ65 billion (nearly US$3 million) after ten days of launching.

Dũng is popular with his comedies A Kiss of Death, Saving The Death, Vivid Kisses and Beauty Trap, favourites among young audiences.

He graduated from the HCM City College of Theatre and Cinematography in 1999. He debuted as assistant director in Dance of the Stork in 2002. — VNS