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.
