AFTER MAKING A number of original shows and series such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, Netflix is moving into the movie-making business.

The streaming service has struck a deal with the Weinstein Company to release the sequel to the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon next year on Netflix and select global IMAX cinemas simultaneously.

This will be the first of several major films backed by the streaming service that will be released on both outlets at the same time. It’s also the first movie that Netflix has funded, which currently has 50 million subscribers.

The movie will see Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as Yu Shu-Lien while Chinese action star Donnie Yen will join the cast as Silent Wolf.

However, it will be made without Ang Lee, while directing duties will be taken over by Chinese director Yuen Wo-Ping, who was the martial arts choreographer for The Matrix Trilogy and Kill Bill 1 & 2.

Filming for the movie has already begun in New Zealand and the sequel will be released on 28 August 2015.

Read: Eircom is the newest arrival at the very-crowded movie download party >

Read: On-demand services grow in popularity, but Irish adults are still glued to the TV >

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More