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John Woo’s ‘The Crossing’ To Be Released In 3D

BEIJING — John Woo’s upcoming epic “The Crossing” is to be presented in stereoscopic 3D.

The decision to convert to 3D, along with its star cast that includes Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Huang Xiaoming and Tong Dawei almost guarantees the pic will be a massive hit in China. Middle Kingdom audiences are still hugely enamored with 3D spectaculars and the nation’s new-build multiplexes are predominantly digitally and 3D equipped.

The film is to be released in two parts in China and some parts of Asia, with a single international edition available in other territories. The first part is set for release in late December this year, while the second is being aimed at the Chinese New Year-Valentine’s Day slot in early 2015.

The $50 million budget picture is a 1949-set story of multiple couples whose destiny is closely tied to dramatic events unfolding in revolutionary China. It ends with the sinking of a passenger ship carrying them to Taiwan. But producer Terence Chang has rejected labels denoting it as a Chinese equivalent of “Titanic.”

Instead, at a press event in Beijing Wednesday it was being pitched under the tagline “There was never a more dangerous time to fall in love.”

Chinese studio, Beijing Galloping Horse Film is handling world sales and will host a trade event for the film in Cannes next month. Le Vision Pictures will distribute in China.

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