TOKYO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Noted Chinese director John Woo says he is taking a risk leaving Hollywood to direct "Red Cliff," a two-part historical epic about his native land.
The director, who has created such Hollywood fare as "Face/Off" and "Mission Impossible 2," said he invested a great deal of his own money into "Cliff," which will mark his first Chinese film in 16 years, Japan Today said Sunday.
"I will pay off my debts if the film is successful," said Woo, who directed such Chinese hits as "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled."
"That left me with enough for about two meals a day," he added. "Seriously, though, I think I've got something more valuable than money out of this production."
Japanese and Taiwanese actors will appear in the two-part film, whose first part will debut at October's Tokyo International Film Festival.
Japan Today said "Cliff," whose mass market release will be on Nov. 1, tells the story of a popularized period of Chinese history that featured a major battle between Chinese forces.
