Chinese actress Li Bingbing has replaced Zhang Ziyi for the leading role in the new film Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the producers confirmed on Monday.

South Korean actress Jeon Ji-hyun remains in the cast, the Shanghai Film Group Corporation announced at a news conference.

The film also stars Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who finished shooting his part in Shanghai last week.

Adapted from Lisa See's best-selling novel of the same name, the English-language film focuses on the lifelong friendship between two women in 19th century Hunan, and modern Shanghai.

Chinese-American filmmaker Wayne Wang directs the movie.

He said he was satisfied with the performance of Li, the latest Best Actress Award winner at Taiwan's annual Golden Horse Awards, and supported Zhang's decision to quit as lead actress and producer.

Zhang's publicist announced earlier that she quit the movie to focus on Wang Kar Wai's new martial-arts drama, The Grand Master.

The shooting of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is expected to finish at the end of April and will be shown in cinemas across China around Christmas and New Year.