Washington DC [US], June 6: Renowned filmmaker Ang Lee is set to direct Old Gold Mountain, an upcoming film adaptation of C. Pam Zhang’s debut novel How Much of These Hills Is Gold, Deadline reported. The screenplay has been penned by Hansol Jung, known for her recent work on Apple TV+’s Pachinko.
The story follows Lucy and Sam, orphaned children of Chinese immigrants navigating a hostile American West. As they flee their mining town after their father’s death, they embark on a surreal journey to bury him in a way that frees them from their troubled past. Along their path, they encounter haunting landscapes, animal spirits, deep-seated family secrets, and shifting possibilities for the future.
The novel, published in 2020, received critical acclaim for its lyrical style and powerful themes of identity, loss, and survival in an America that denies their existence.
This marks Ang Lee’s return to the director’s chair following his celebrated career directing modern classics such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain, and Life of Pi. Lee was most recently honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 77th Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards held in February 2025, becoming the 37th filmmaker to receive the distinction.
A member of the DGA since 1996, Lee has won the DGA Award for Feature Film twice and has been a vital contributor to both American and global cinema. His visionary storytelling and commitment to cultural narratives have earned him widespread recognition, including a special DGA honor in 2018 for supporting American culture through film and television.
With Old Gold Mountain, Lee brings his signature cinematic depth to a poignant tale of immigrant resilience and reimagined American history.