Giant screen exhibitor Imax is pushing further into the Chinese market by working with director John Woo (Face/Off) to blow up his upcoming war pic for the 70 mm format.

Imax, which recently co-produced its first non-English film, Aftershock, with the Chinese film studio Huayi Brothers Media, will partner with Woo on Flying Tigers, his $90 million English and Chinese language drama set to start pre-production in China next month.

Los Angeles-based CAA is also on board to complete financing and casting for the 1940s drama about a true-life American military aviator who taught Chinese fighter pilots to battle the Japanese in aerial combat during the Second World War.

Imax, which has been rapidly opening digital screens in the Chinese market, is looking to diversify its movie offerings in that emerging market away from Hollywood titles solely to Chinese language films.

Aftershock, which recently opened on theatrical release in China, is the first of three large format films that Imax will co-produce and distribute with Huayi Brothers Media.