Woo to direct King Arthur western

LOS ANGELES, July 17 (UPI) -- Chinese film director John Woo is set to helm a big-screen adaptation of the soon-to-be-released King Arthur comic book, "Caliber."

Woo has previously directed the action flicks "Broken Arrow," "Face/Off" and "Mission Impossible II."

Variety.com said "Caliber" will be based on a comic set to premiere at next week's Comic-Con in San Diego, Calif. The story reinvents medieval England's King Arthur and his knights as 19th century gunslingers in the Pacific Northwest, the entertainment industry trade paper said.

Before Woo gets started on that project he will finish up work on his two-part "Red Cliff" saga.

The first installment opened July 10 in six Asian territories and earned $26 million over the weekend,Variety.com said.

Woo is currently editing the second part for a January release in Asia and is expected to put together an international cut of the movie shortly after that.

The filmmaker recently announced plans to direct "1949," a period romance set during the Chinese Revolution. Production on that movie is expected to begin after Woo finishes up "Red Cliff," Variety.com said.