Fresh from completing Riding Alone for Thoudands of Miles which will soon hit cinemas in the new year, acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou has already begun preparations for his next project, the martial arts epic Autumn Remembrance. 

The maestro will arrive at the popular film & TV production base of Hengdian World Studios in southeast China's Zhejiang province to begin work on the choreography and sets for his third big budget martial arts film, following the hugely successful Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

Shooting will formally begin between next March and April and will take around a month to complete.

Set in China's Tang Dynasty, Autumn Remembrance will take audiences on a journey through the fierce battles between an emperor and empress at war.

Chow Yun-Fat has been confirmed as the Emperor while Gong Li is the hot favourite for the role of the Empress.

Chinese actor Liu Ye has also been linked to a major role in the film.

(CRI December 12, 2005)