Netflix and The Weinstein Company have announced that they will release the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon simultaneously on the streaming platform and in IMAX theatres on August 28, 2015.
The sequel to Ang Lee’s 2000 hit, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, will be Netflix’s first orignial movie. Yuen Wo-ping is directing and Michelle Yeoh is reprising her role as Yu Shu-lien.
Donnie Yen also stars along with Harry Shum Jr, Jason Scott Lee, Roger Yuan, Eugenia Yuan and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo.
Based on the same series of Wang Dulu novels as the original film, the sequel tells a new story set against an epic martial arts battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of the martial world.
Production is currently underway in New Zealand. TWC co-founder Harvey Weinstein is producing with Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey and while executive producers include Morten Tyldum, Ralph Winter, Anthony Wong and Bey Logan. John Fusco wrote the script.
The film is the first of several backed by Netflix which will premiere on the same day on the streaming platform and in select IMAX cinemas globally.
“Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.
Weinstein said: “The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement. We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.”
Netflix has an output deal with The Weinstein Company (TWC) under which it has exclusive US subscription TV rights to TWC’s first-run films, starting in 2016. The two companies are also collaborating on the Marco Polo original series, also written by Fusco.