Tony Leung is back as Waise Lee in "Cold War 2." (Photo : YouTube)
The sequel to the award-winning Hong Kong film "Cold War" is expected to hit global cinemas on July 8.
China will get a simultaneous release date along with 27 other countries, including those in the African and North American regions.
Produced by Bill Kong, "Cold War 2" has an A-list cast, including Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young and Tony Leung from the first installation.
Janice Man and Chow Yun-fat join the ensemble.
The sequel brings back the conflict between Kwok and Leung's characters, made even more complex by their individual powerful backers.
Like its predecessor, the movie has political overtones with the institutional struggle between Beijing and Hong Kong happening in the background.
Meanwhile, co-director Lok Man Leung said in an interview with China Daily that the follow-up movie has upped the game in terms of plot and fighting scenes.
"It's a bigger-scaled story with more exciting fights," Leung said.
He also shared that months were spent on conducting research and polishing the script.
Kwok, who reprises his role as Sean Lau, revealed that he felt more connected to his role.
"The upcoming sequel adds more personal, emotional elements, such as Sean Lau's (a police commissioner) family. It makes me feel I was closer to the role," Kwok said, as quoted by China Daily.
With the first installment scooping up awards and skyrocketing sales, "Cold War 2" has some big shoes to fill.
In an early review, the Hollywood Reporter said that "the top-grossing Hong Kong film of 2012 is a lot less fun the second time round."
"All the main characters are sketched as over-the-top stereotypes who earn little sympathy with their 'House of Cards' problems, which the charisma of the three topliners can do little to overcome," the entertainment website noted.
It will be exciting to see if the movie will beat early predictions or simply fade in the background of its predecessor as it hits theaters next month.
"Cold War 2" opened this year's Shanghai International Film Festival.
