Comedian Xiao Shen Yang (right) will star in the film "Amazing Tales - Three Guns" to be directed by Zhang Yimou (left). [Tungstar/cnsphoto]

Top Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou has begun work on a new film called "Amazing Tales - Three Guns".

The film will be divided into two parts, one part a suspense thriller and the other a comedy.

An article on Variety.com says Sun Honglei, Ni Dahong, Xiao Shen Yang and Wang Xiaohua are in the frame to star.

The "Raise the Red Lantern" director orchestrated last year's Olympics opening ceremonies and will also choreograph a huge parade in October this year to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

In terms of the silver-screen, Zhang has been relatively quiet since the Oscar-nominated "Curse of the Golden Flower" back in 2006.

Filming for Zhang's latest project is set to start in Gansu Province in June with a view to release at the Chinese Lunar New Year.

(CRI April 30, 2009)