“Viy 2,” a co-production between Russia and China, has a box-office casting coup since the movie, set in the 18th century, has Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan as its stars.
The movie is also known as “Journey to China: The Iron Mask Mystery.” Its story is about Jonathan Green, an English traveler assigned to draw a map of Russia’s Far East. His travel brings him to China, which explains why the movie is a China-Russia film collaboration, according to China Entertainment News.
It is based on a novel by Nikolai Gogol, a 19th century Russian writer. Besides Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic are also co-producers of the movie released in Russia in 2014 and had a box office of $34.6 million which made it the highest-grossing local film in Russia.
Of the $36 million budget of the period movie, $15 million came from China. It is director Oleg Stepchenko’s directorial debut and would be scheduled for showing outside Russia in 2017. Actor Jason Flemyng plays the role of Green, according to Gleb Fetisov, producer of “Viy 2.”
While Schwarzengger confirmed his participation in the movie, Fetisov did not disclose the role of the “Terminator” star and former California governor in the film, according to Hollywood Reporter. He also did not specify the role of Jackie Chan.