Chinese director Jiang Wen is talking to Hollywood about co-producing the sequel to his 2010 box office smash "Let the Bullets Fly," and will visit the US to see potential partners next month.
"Bullets," a pulsating Eastern take on a Western set in smalltown China in the 1920s, which combined Sergio Leone visuals with witty Chinese satire, earned nearly $110 million.
Script was co-written by Jiang and Guo Junli who are expected to work on the new film, described as a loose, though not direct, sequel.
Jiang plans to shoot in the fall for a late 2013 release.
Hong Kong's Emperor Pictures is likely to co-produce and distribute the film, as it did with "Bullets."
Casting is not yet set but Jiang will link with Gong Li in the movie, 25 years after they worked together in Zhang Yimou's breakthrough arthouse masterpiece "Red Sorghum."
A US actor is being considered for a role and also in the frame is Ge You while Hong Kong's Chow Yun-fat has been mentioned.
Execs did not reveal the budget except to indicate it will be larger than the $18 million spent on "Bullets."
"We have received many offers of investment in the new film, but have not decided on anyone yet," said Yan Yunfei, a spokesman for Beijing-based Buyilehu Films, which is owned by Jiang and Ma Ke.
"It's possible that we will co-produce with the U.S., but we will take the main part. There are talks going on at the moment, and next month we will go to the US, and by then there should have been more developments."