Thaindian News

Shanghai, June 14 (IANS) Chinese filmmaker John Woo says his much-talked about magnum opus “Flying Tiger SWAT Team” will be in 3D format, but has denied Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is in the cast of the movie.
Rumours were rife that the movie will feature Cruise alongside Chinese actor Sun Honglei.

“‘Flying Tiger SWAT Team’ is being prepared and the script has already been finished. It will be in 3D, if everything goes well. We don’t have a final decision about the actors and have no communication with them,” Daily Mail quoted Woo as saying.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival that started Saturday and ends June 20.

“Flying Tiger SWAT Team” is said to be the most expensive movie in Chinese history with a budget of about $150 million. Its cast will feature a mix of Hollywood and Chinese stars.

“This film emphasises the friendship between the Chinese and US air forces, so most of the film will be air battles,” added Woo, who has helmed Hollywood biggies like “Broken Arrow”, “Face/Off” and “Mission: Impossible 2″.

The movie will chronicle the exploits of “The Flying Tigers”, known otherwise as the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG), a fighter squadron based in Yunnan, China, made up of American pilots that flew missions against Japanese bombers and fighters during World War II.

The Flying Tigers destroyed some 300 enemy aircraft while only suffering 14 casualties during the war.

This won’t be the first time Woo will direct a World War II movie. In 2002, he had directed Nicolas Cage starrer “Windtalkers”.