Xu Wei/Shanghai Daily news

Movie fans inquire about tickets in front of a poster of “The Promise” at Shanghai Film Art Center yesterday. Director Chen Kaige’s latest film cost more than US$30 million and will open at city cinemas on December 15. — Wang Rongjiang

Action film "The Promise," also known as "Wu Ji," will premiere on December 15.
Chen Kaige's latest film will debut at the Shanghai Concert Hall that night, according to Shanghai United Cinema Lines, the city's leading cinema chain.
Director Chen, Chen's wife Chen Hong, the producer of "The Promise," lead actor Jang Dong-gun, as well as actress Cecilia Cheung and actor Liu Ye will attend the premiere and take questions from the audience. From this week, major cinemas including Shanghai Film Art Center, Studio City Cinema and Paradise Warner Cinema City have started selling tickets for the premiere.
Shao Zhenhua, manager of Shanghai Film Art Center, said more than 80 percent of the total of 1,118 premiere tickets at his cinema have been sold. He believes "The Promise" will be the year's box office champion.
Paradise Warner Cinema City will have a special screening on December 14. Only 32 VIP guests have been invited to the formal attire event. They can speak with Chen after the film ends.
Each ticket is 1,888 yuan (US$233) and the cinema said only eight were left.
Li Lan, manager of Paradise Warner Cinema City, said: "The film retains Chen's fabulous artistic style and boasts magnificent scenes with amazing stunts."
With a budget of more than US$30 million, the epic saga set in ancient Asia is a story about fate, love, loyalty and hatred. The movie will represent the Chinese mainland for a chance at a Best Foreign Film nomination at the Academy Awards.
Chen first became known for his award-winning film "Farewell My Concubine."
Director Zhang Yimou's latest film "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles," also known as "Qian Li Zou Dan Ji," will debut on December 22. It is expected to rival "The Promise."