Along with his 3-D filmmaking crew, director Tsui Hark is now planning to bring a household Chinese tale of war to the big screen.

Chinese director Tsui Hark [File Photo: eastday.com]

Sources from Polybona Films have revealed that Tsui is set to embark on an adaptation of the novel "Lin Hai Xue Yuan" for his new project.

Polybona Films co-produced Tsui's latest film, "The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate", a martial-arts flick starring Jet Li, Zhou Xun and Kwai Lun-mei. Tsui shot the film using 3-D cameras, and was reportedly the first Chinese filmmaker to do so. This film is slated for release in December.

As for his next project, the original "Lin Hai Xue Yuan" novel is set in 1946 during the Chinese Civil War, and tells the story of a battle of wits between a bandit chief nicknamed Zuoshandiao, and the hero Yang Zirong. The novel's hero, Yang, manages to infiltrate Zuoshandiao's gang in an effort to exterminate it.

Casting for Tsui's film has yet to begin, though rumors have already started to swirl, with word that the director wants to have Jiang Wen and Zhao Benshan on board.

Filming is to start later this year, with the release slated for 2012.