John Woo has finished editing an international version of Red Cliff( the Battle of Red Cliff), whose second installment premiered in China on  January 7, and preparing to offer it to American distributors. He revealed this new version does focus on the main characters and eliminates peripheral ones.

The $80 million historical epic, based on an ancient Chinese battle was split into two installments lasting a combined five hours for Asia, but a single movie lasting two hours and 25 minutes has been prepared for audiences elsewhere. Throughout the film, third-century warlords and their strategists battle on land, at sea and among flames.

"I wanted to make Asian audiences feel it's a familiar story but also make Western audiences feel they're watching a love story like 'Troy' or an Asian version of 'Gladiator,'" John Woo said.