John Woo [File photo]

Director John Woo plans to turn his new film 1949 into an "oriental Titanic", cast member Mark Cheng has revealed.

The big-budget romantic epic is set on a cruise liner, which John Woo is spending a huge amount of money on to make more luxurious than the Titanic, Cheng said during an interview with the Shanghai Youth Daily.

"The gigantic cruiser is equipped with all the facilities you could ever want. The director wants it to look dignified and at the same time vintage," he said.

The movie tells the love, life and death stories of three pairs of lovers. Actors Chen Chang, Patrick Tam and Mark Cheng have been cast as the male leads. Kungfu star Michelle Yeoh, and South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo will play two of the female leading roles, with the last one still to be decided.

Cheng will play opposite Michelle Yeoh.

The scheduled filming date has been postponed for half a year due to preparation of the movie sets. Hopefully lensing will start in June 2009, actor Patrick Tam has said earlier.