Johnnie To will helm the project "Dim Sum Western" featuring Two Gun Cohen.

      Johnnie To's films are not released as frequently these days, and the ones that are announced often do not come to fruition. As the lengthy and somewhat unexpected wait for Election 3 continues, and with his Japan-based gangster film facing some delays, it has been reported by Variety that the Hong Kong filmmaker is now set to make his first western, as well as his debut film in Canada.

      With support from the Fantasia Film Festival's production market Frontières (which plans to showcase the project at TIFF) and producer Todd Brown (known for The Raid, The Raid 2, Mandy, The Furious), To is reportedly gearing up to start filming Two Gun Cohen. This film recounts the true story of Morris Cohen, a "perpetual grifter living in the Canadian prairies who became a personal bodyguard, trusted confidant, and general to Dr. Sun Yat-sen." Below is the official synopsis, provided by Screen Anarchy:

      “The western frontier, 1911. Con artist, swindler, and perpetual schemer Morris Cohen finds himself in a difficult situation. After being caught cheating at cards, he sits in a jail cell, seemingly out of luck. That is until a mysterious Chinese man offers him a deal: ‘Ask no questions, join our service and we will bail you out.’

      It's an easy choice for Cohen, but he is unaware that his new employer is inciting an armed rebellion on the other side of the globe and is being hunted by authorities determined to eliminate the threat.”

      Patrick Whistler (In Cold Light) is responsible for the script for Two Gun Cohen, and the project's upcoming appearance at TIFF raises hopes for an early start to production for the 71-year-old To.