BEIJING (AP) — Hoping for maximum publicity, Chinese director Jiang Wen launched his latest movie at an event Monday — more than three months before it is due to open in cinemas.
“Gone With the Bullets” is a 3-D sequel to Jiang’s 2010 political satire “Let the Bullets Fly,” which featured a bandit posing as a mayor. It grossed $103 million in mainland China.
With an estimated budget of $20 million, “Gone With the Bullets” is set in 1920s Shanghai and revolves around a beauty pageant. Jiang is the first Chinese director to shoot a film with an IMAX 3-D digital camera, according to an IMAX press release.
Jiang was asked whether he wanted it to make more money than “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” which became the biggest grossing film in China in July.
Jiang, who also acts in the film, said, “I definitely want to see a big box office for my movie and I want it as big as possible.”
The launch event was also attended by actresses Shu Qi and Zhou Yun and actor Ge You.
“Gone With the Bullets” is due to open Dec. 18 on the Chinese mainland.
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