Woo to Shoot Flying Tiger Heroes

John Woo, who’s been in China since filming his two-part Red Cliff saga, recently announced production on Flying Tiger Heroes, a film detailing the legendary Flying Tigers of World War II. This comes a few weeks after George Lucas announced Red Tails, a movie focusing on the Tuskeegee Airsmen. The Flying Tigers, or the 1st American Volunteer Group, were a group of Americans flying for China against the Japanese from a week after the States entered the war in 1941. With both movies being in the works, and both at roughly the same spot in pre-production, theoretically they should be done around the same time. But realistically, knowing that Lucas is making the other, I’m looking forward to the year-gap that will probably happen due to the post-production for Red Tails. Hopefully, though, the two will make it out around the same time so they can have it out in the theaters, but don’t count your chickens.

Woo promises that audiences will see “the most spectacular aerial battle scenes ever seen in Chinese cinema.” With a budget of $161 million, the cast will include both Chinese and American actors. Woo explained, “This is an extremely important production. This Yunnan-themed film emphasizes China-US friendship and the contributions of the Flying Tigers and the people of Yunnan during the War of Resistance.”

The Flying Tigers were resposible for taking down nearly 300 planes while only losing 14 during the course of the war. Their presence was known by the iconic shark-teeth painted on the nose. In addition to Chinese war history, the Tigers also played an important part in the United States’ Air Force history.

Source: FirstShowing.net