After 15 years out of the limelight, film icon seems set to stage a comeback

Could Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia be coming out of retirement? That's what the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers' chairman, Ng Sze-yuen, hinted recently. The industry veteran is also involved in Wong Kar-wai's latest project as producer for the new version of wing chun master Ip Man's story, tentatively titled The Grandmaster. Ng explained that filming will start in July with Tony Leung Chiu-wai already announced in the lead role. However, rumours have suggested that Lin has agreed to play Ip's wife, although details have yet to be confirmed. If true, this will be 1990s movie icon Lin's first on-screen film role since 1994's Chungking Express.

Ng neither confirmed nor denied the news while launching a handbook of guidelines for safety during film production on Wednesday. A few thousand copies of this booklet will be distributed throughout the industry encouraging workers to follow specific rules on film sets and guidelines on protection.

'We all know a stuntman was burned to death during the production of a John Woo Yu-sum film (Red Cliff), while many others were hurt in flying stunts with wires. This handbook is designed to help them understand how accidents can be avoided.'