Jung Woo-sung in new Woo production

Production on the new John Woo martial arts epic "Rain of Swords" began Tuesday in Shanghai starring Korean actor Jung Woo-sung, according to Jung`s management company, Taurus Films yesterday.

Woo and long-time partner Terrence Chang are producing under their film company Lion Rock Productions. The film also stars veteran Hong Kong film star Michelle Yeoh

It will be Jung`s first overseas film project, and has been described by the filmmakers as a "romantic martial arts thriller."

The film is co-directed by Taiwan`s Su Chau-bin and John Woo with choreography by Stephen Tung Wei.

The suspense-driven Wuxia story follows a love affair between an assassin, played by Yeoh, and a messenger, played by Jung.

Woo looks to continue his own love affair with the Wuxia genre after scoring back-to-back international hits with the two Red Cliff films, which were based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novels.

The film is set for a third quarter 2010 release throughout Asia.

(kws@heraldm.com)