Chinese director Feng Xiaogang is stepping out from behind the camera for the lead role in new movie "Fading Wave."

Long regarded as one of the most successful directors in China, Feng will star in Guan Hu's film as an elderly gangster who finds his time is gone in Beijing.

Feng last played a lead character in Wang Shuo's comedy "Papa", which won the best film award at the 2000 Swiss Locarno International Film Festival.

Feng said he was drawn to Fading Wave after reading the film's script.

Shooting of the feature-length production began recently, and the film is expected to be released in theaters nationwide on Christmas Eve in 2015.