John Woo and producer Terence Chang’s upcoming action epic Flying Tigers will be digitally re-mastered into the IMAX format, marking IMAX Corporation’s second release in China following blockbuster Aftershock.

The US-China co-production, between Woo and Chang’s Lion Rock Productions and Chinese partners, is expected to start shooting in spring 2011. China Film Group is the lead Chinese financier on the film.

The project tells the story of an American volunteer group, known as the Fourteenth Air Force during World War II, which trained Chinese pilots to fight against the Japanese air force. The film reportedly has a budget of around $90m.

“It has always been a dream of mine to explore shooting with IMAX cameras and to work in the IMAX format, and the strong visual element of this film is incredibly well-suited to the tastes of cinemagoers today,” said Woo. “Using IMAX for Flying Tigers would create a new experience for the audience, and I think it would be another breakthrough for Chinese movies.”

IMAX’s first Chinese release, earthquake disaster movie Aftershock, directed by Feng Xiaogang and produced by Huayi Brothers, has become the biggest Chinese-language film in Chinese film history, raking in more than $78m (RMB530m).

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