Well-known Hong Kong action choreographers Yuen Wo-ping will join Jet Li's new action blockbuster Huo Yuanjia Biopic.

Yuen Wo-ping has choreographed the action for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix series and Kill Bill series. His Kung Fu Hustle is currently smashing the box offices in Asia and his film Danny the Dog, which also starring Jet Li, will be released in France on February 2.

As a co-producer, Columbia Pictures will invest about US$19 million into the project.

Jet Li's character, Huo Yuanjia was known for promoting martial arts and a patriotic spirit in China when the country was suffering because of corruption and foreign invasion during 1868 and 1910.

Japanese actress Noriko Sakai will be the love interest of the legendary martial-art master Huo Yuanjia.

(CRI January 18, 2005)