More projects announced by Andrew Lau? Initial D2, The Twin Cities and Api Sword

It wasn't too long ago when we reported a few projects coming down the pipe for Andrew Lau and Alan Mak [Infernal Affairs and Initial D]. And wouldn't you know it. Someone else has come along and reported something entirely different. It keeps you on your toes. Andrew Lau was speaking with the Chinese newspaper Information Times and what it reports is not entirely contradictory to what we reported only a few weeks ago but it does mean that there is a lot to come from this duo of HK filmmakers.

First project he announced was Initial D 2. I love Initial D, the anime. I liked Initial D, the movie. There is a lot to improve upon and sadly it seems that replacing Jay Chou as Takumi isn't going to be one of those improvements. Lau said it would be a great challenge to make the sequel looks better than the original. Lau said in the sequel, Takumi Fujiwara (Jay Chou) might join a new racing team and might get a new girl friend. No date was given and Lau promised to start writing the script soon. It could be interpreted that the duo will move away from the anime storyline and create their own tale. Mind you, in the fourth series Takumi does join the Takahashi brothers to create a touring team. Hmmm.

Shuang Cheng / The Twin Cities (literal title) Lau only revealed a very vague storyline of the proposed cop thriller set in Hong Kong. It begins with a new case, then things get worse and worse, and something new occurs. He was hoping to work with the major cast members of Infernal Affairs in the project. Lau expected to release it during the coming Christmas, even though the script was done. Could this be the film we talked about last time? Any return to the crime thriller is a welcome one.

Api Sword This will be the film version of Taiwanese artist Cheng Wen's classic comic series Api Sword (aka. Api Magic Sword), in the genre of wuxia in the ancient China. Lau said he would make it in the more old fashion style created by director King Hu. Shooting would begin sometime next year. Ooh. I would love me a movie with a take on the old kung fu classics. Nice.

[source]