Trivia: The mysterious new leader of the flying daggers never actually appears because that role was intended for actress/ singer Anita Mui, who resigned the (impending) filming due to ill health two weeks before dying of cancer. Out of respect Zhang Yimou didn't replace her with another actress and the film is dedicated to her memory.
Trivia: Zhang Ziyi spent two months living alongside a twelve-year-old blind girl to prepare for her role as Mei.
