Sequel of Crouching Tiger's underway but without Ang Lee

Hong Kong veteran filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping with the promotional team for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend at an event in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon took audiences by storm when it was released 15 years ago.

Now, 15 years after Ang Lee's international hit won four prizes at the 73th Academy Awards, the impressive Chinese wuxia (martial arts) title has a sequel being made by The Weinstein Company.

But it won't be Lee at the helm.

Kung fu enthusiasts will, however, be delighted to know that Hong Kong veteran filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping is the director of the latest title, since Lee showed no interest in repeating a similar story.

"Filmmaking is part of life. I'll do it whenever I still can do it. But for me, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has become the past," Lee said at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Details of the sequel were shared on Monday in Beijing, reportedly from a place not far from the new film's sets.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend will hit mainland theaters on Feb 8, 2016, during the Chinese Lunar New Year.