Earlier this year it was announced that a sequel to Russian fantasy film Viy (titled Forbidden Empire internationally) was going into production with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan attached to star. The first official image of the duo, each with some serious facial hair, has now been released.
The sequel, dubbed Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask for some reason, also stars Jason Flemyng (reprising his role from Viy), Charles Dance, and Rutger Hauer.
There’s no official release date, and the first film had a troubled production that lasted a decade, so who knows.
The English traveler Jonathan Green receives from Peter the Great an order to map the Russian Far East. Once again he sets out for a long journey full of incredible adventures that will eventually lead him to China.
The cartographer will unexpectedly face a lot of breathtaking discoveries, encounter bizarre creatures, meet with Chinese princesses, and confront deadly martial arts masters and even the king of all dragons – the Dragon King. What could be more dangerous than meeting eye to eye with Viy, except doing it again? What would be stronger this time – a staunch skepticism of the scientist or the old black magic that has seized power of Eastern lands?
