ACTION movie star Steven Seagal from Hollywood has been preparing for making a Genghis Khan movie this week in China. Seagal will play the role of Genghis Khan in the US$30 million film he plans to make with the Mongolian Oyuunii Undraa company and Hong Kong Cinema, starting in May 2003.His schedule in Beijing included casting eight actors to play Genghis Khan’s sons and grandsons, scouting locations at places like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall (note: Genghis Khan never reached Beijing and the Forbidden City was built nearly two centuries after his death. In addition, much of the Great Wall we see today was rebuilt at about the same time), and meeting director Chen Kaige and the Chinese Mongolian actors, said Bian Zushan, president of the movie’s Chinese investor, to Beijing’s Star Daily.Seagal arrived in Beijing Sunday evening. Once getting off the plane, he and his companies immediately rushed to the Forbidden City, but were stopped by security guards patrolling the six-century-old palace complex. He went to Kangxi Grassland Monday, about 70 kilometers north of downtown Beijing and just outside of the Great Wall. When being asked the difference between this grassland and the Mongolian grassland, he said, “Basically the same.” When visiting the Great Wall at Badaling, he used words like “spectacular” and “magnificent.” The third stop is Yangguang Horse Club, just beside the Great Wall. While riding a horse, he pointed at his hair and eyes, and said, “Look, same as yours! So, I can play Genghis Khan!” In the evening he met Chinese Mongolian singer actor Tengger and asked him to sing the theme song and play a role in the movie.Bian also said the Mongolian counterpart wanted the cast to be largely filled by people from its country, but Steven Seagal still wanted to work with Chinese actors and shoot the movie in China.After one-day location scouting at the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Kangxi Grassland, Steven Seagal finally met someone who can really make the project possible. Beijing Morning Post reports he has talked with Han Sanping, president of Century Hero Film Investment Company, and an oral agreement of co-producing the movie has been reached. Steven Seagal will send the script, which is still a work-in-progress, to Century Hero; and Century Hero will bring out the final screenplay and a production plan within a month. So far the project has yet to be submitted to the Chinese Film Bureau and bringing Century Hero on board will largely secure an approval from the bureau, because Century Hero is partially owned by the China Film Group. Up to now, popular Chinese stars including Zhang Ziyi and Siqin Gaowa have shown interest in becoming a member of the team.(SD-Agencies)