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LOS ANGELES : It has been six years since John Woo’s last English film “Paycheck” but the Chinese director is returning with a bang.
After having made the Chinese epic “Red Cliff” movies in 2008, Woo told Movieline.com in an interview that he hasn't given up on Hollywood and is currently considering two English-language projects.
One of them is a remake of the French classic “Le Samourai.” The 1967 crime drama by Jean-Pierre Melville has previously influenced Woo as seen in his earlier made film, “The Killer.”
The 1989 Hong Kong action movie starring Chow Yuen Fat may be considered a near remake but Woo justified his plans.
“I want to make it into a modern film,” said Woo.
The other project that Woo is mulling over is a historical period film about Venetian explorer and merchant, Marco Polo.
He has been long interested in the tales of Polo and his relationship with Mongolian conqueror Kublai Khan.
Woo previously saw box-office success with his Hollywood action movies namely 1997’s “Face/Off” starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, and 2000’s “Mission Impossible” featuring Tom Cruise.
Subsequently, his “Windtalkers” in 2002 and “Paycheck” did not perform as well commercially, compared to his earlier fare and were panned by critics.
His return to China saw him making a strong comeback with the series of “Red Cliff” movies. Split into two parts, Part One grossed US$124 million (S$173.8 million) in Asia alone and broke the box-office record previously held by “Titanic” in China.
Last Friday saw Woo attending the 45th Chicago International Film Festival for the debut of the US version of “Red Cliff” which will open nation wide in the States on November 20.
- CNA/nc
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