NEW YORK : Legendary martial arts action director, Lau Kar-Leung (a.k.a. Liu Chia-Liang) is preparing for his latest martial arts masterpiece. Heroes of Shaolin will be the culmination of over 50 years of experience and over 300 movies for the 69 year old director. The film is currently in pre-production and is being produced by Burning Shaolin Production, out of New York. It is targeted for production early mid 2007 in Mainland China.

Lau is considered an industry anomaly; often writing, directing, choreographing and starring in many of the classic Kung-Fu movies from the 70’s and 80’s. He is single handedly credited for creating the genre of Kung-Fu movies as we know them today. Lau has gone on record as to say, “this will be my best movie, and the best martial arts movie ever made.” If anyone can make this statement, it is Lau Kar-Leung.

According to Hong Kong martial arts movie legend Gordon Liu (Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2) the revolutionary director didn’t have to say much to obtain his services other than this film was to be his greatest masterpiece. Heroes of Shaolin will be an action packed martial arts film with spectacular fight sequences and of course signature Lau Kar-Leung training scenes. As well as something new for Lau Kar-Leung, an unconventional love story. Gordon Liu will be reprising his role of Bok Mei, the traitorous white haired priest.

A remarkable Shaolin Monk Luk Ah-Choi escapes from the destruction of his home (the Shaolin Temple) and takes refuge in a local village where he falls in love with the beautiful, jaded and lethal Yim Wing Chun. Together they struggle to organize a rebellion against the oppressing Qing Dynasty. Distracted from his true mission by his vendetta against the murderous traitor Bok Mei (Liu), Luk Ah-Choi jeopardizes all in this 19th Century epic of love, life and vengeance.

Lau Kar-Leung’s features have dazzled audiences and brought innovation to the Martial Arts film for over 50 years. His creations such as Spiritual Boxer (1975) opened the door for films by superstars such as Jackie Chan and Samo Hung. He directed and starred in Chan’s Drunken Master 2 (1994). He directed Jet Li in Martial Arts of Shaolin in what has been referred to as the best film of his career. His Legendary Weapons of China (1982) set the stage for fight scenes such as between Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang in Crouching Tiger, and has the acclaim of being the best martial arts film ever made. Lau’s contributions to the martial arts film industry have made him a filmmaking icon. He has won Golden Horse Awards (Hong Kong Oscars) for Best Director and Best Action Choreography. Most recently he was awarded for his Action Direction for Seven Swords (2005).

Asian superstar Gordon Liu has appeared in both of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Volumes and countless Hong Kong film productions. He is most famous for his reoccurring role as the monk San Te (the Master Killer). Other cast considerations and talks include Zhang Ziyi, (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, Memoirs of a Geisha) Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Bullet Proof Monk), Donny Yen (Hero) and Tony Jaa (Ong Baak). Heroes of Shaolin is in pre-production stages and is targeted to begin filming mid 2007.

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