Shanghai Movie Company declared war on world-renowned Hong Kong director John Woo after he announced he will move the battlefield of the War of Red Cliff to the big screen.

The Shanghai movie giant was at the time shooting a film with the same name at a cost of 250 million yuan, or over US$30 million.

John Woo has long dreamed of shooting the film which took place during the Three Kingdoms period more than 1700 years ago.

He will start shooting next year, with a budget of 300 million yuan, or over US$36 million.

Celebrated Hong Kong film star Chow Yun-fat will play the lead role as the King of Shu，Liu Bei, and many shining stars from Japan and South Korea will also be included in the line-up.

But Shanghai Movie Company insisted on Sunday that it will go ahead with its own plans.

(CRI August 16, 2004)