Lucy Liu lands role in human smuggling drama 'Snakehead'

Lucy Liu will be starring in a New York-set drama about the international underworld of human smuggling 'Snakehead.'

The movie will be directed by Evan Jackson Leong, who wrote the script as well, and will be financed and produced by 408 Films in partnership with Arowana Films, Deadline.com reported.

The 45-year-old actress, who will play a Chinese immigrant who arrives penniless to the streets of New York City's Chinatown, until she is mentored in the business of human smuggling by the powerful bosses called Snakeheads, said that she was drawn to this story and character not only because it ties into her history as a Chinese American but also as a New Yorker.

The 'Elementary' star continued that after reading Evan's script, the hidden world of human smuggling was exposed to be right here in everyone's backyard and the reality is at the same time fascinating and grotesque.

She added that this combination undoubtedly lays a landscape for a cinematic experience not to be forgotten.