Despite tides of criticism, slams and sneers for the mega-budget movie The Promise, director Chen Kaige plans to shoot a sequel, the Sina.com reported yesterday. 　　

 

The news was released by one of Chen's working partners, saying that Chen had been to Yunnan's Lijiang, Chuxiong and Shangri-La to choose a location for the sequel. 　　

 

Negative reviews of The Promise made Chen fly into a rage but didn't frustrate him, according to the report. 　　

 

Chen had said while shooting The Promise that he would shoot a sequel if The Promise had satisfactory box-office results. The film has turned in a stunning 300 million yuan (US$37 million), which has reportedly given Chen the motivation to make a sequel. 　　

 

Following the film's controversy, the sequel's name may have nothing to do with The Promise. The film had the largest budget in China's movie history and the total investment for the untitled sequel won't be less, the report said.

 

　　

 

Like The Promise, many scenes of the sequel will reportedly be filmed in Yunnan Province. The post-production budget is expected to spend lavishly on high-tech visual effects. 　　

 

Shooting is expected to begin at the end of 2006. 　　

 

(Shenzhen Daily April 13, 2006)