HO CHI MINH CITY, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Hollywood director and screenwriter Jordan Charles Vogt-Roberts have arrived in the northern province of Ninh Binh to prepare for his new film Kong: Skull Island, an upcoming King Kong prequel, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Vogt-Roberts and his 23 staff, including cinematographer Larry Fong, have conducted research for the film by traveling around the province. The film is a production of Legendary Pictures.
According to Hollywood Reporter magazine, Kong: Skull Island will star actors Bire Larson, Tom Hiddleston, John C. Reily, Samuel L. Jackson and Toby Kebbell. The film is expected to be released in 2017.
Before arriving in Ninh Binh, Vogt-Roberts and his staff visited central Quang Binh province last week, discovering the mountainous areas of Bo Trach, Thuong Hoa, Trung Hoa and Tan Hoa, all of which are famous tourist destinations.
They also plan to visit northwest provinces of Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Yen Bai. The director's trip will end in late December.
According to an unofficial source, Vogt-Roberts plans to work on filming in Vietnam from December to late 2016.