Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel announced among many new movie projects

Chinese and U.S. producers will collaborate on a sequel to the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, they announced yesterday at the ongoing 17th Shanghai International Film Festival.

The Sino-US production, titled The Green Destiny, will be shot later this year in New Zealand and China. Co-produced  by Pegasus Media, China Film Group Corporation and the Weinstein Company, it is expected to be released in 2016.

The martial arts film will center on the battles for an ancient and precious Chinese sword. Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh and Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse have been confirmed to star in the movie.

Pegasus Media president Sun Jianjun said Hollywood craft professionals involved in The Lord of the Rings will be invited to do special effects, make-up and costumes for the movie.

"It will retain the Oriental flavor of the first movie but include more stunning visual effects with the help of foreign expertise," he said.

Sun added that in the following two years the three companies will also co-produce movies in varied genres with famed production companies in South Korea and France.

These will include the sci-fi film Fist, romantic comedy Call For Love 3, fashion drama Face Shopper and war epic Angel\'s List.

Also yesterday, a Chinese release date was announced for the 3D animated movie Dragon Nest, co-produced by Hollywood-based Borden and Mili Pictures.

The fantasy 3D film, adapted from a popular online game, will hit cinemas across China on July 31. So far the movie has made more than US$600,000 in overseas distribution and sales.

Local film behemoth Shanghai Film Group Corporation also announced that  its important film project The Cursed Piano will soon start shooting.

The planned epic is headed by Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson and co-produced by Hollywood filmmaker Mike Medavoy. Set in World War II-era Shanghai, it is the love story of a Jewish musician who escapes the Holocaust in Europe.