Face/Off director John Woo is to helm an epic about the communist takeover of China.

1949 will revolve around a love story set in the final years of China's civil war.

The £20 million movie, to be shot in Chinese, will star Seong Hye-kyo and Chang Chen. Lust, Caution writer Wong Hui-Ling will pen the screenplay.

Woo is in Cannes promoting two-part war film Red Cliff, his first feature since 2003's Paycheck.

1949 is scheduled for a December 2009 release to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.