Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend is set to premiere next year on both Netflix and select Imax screens simultaneously. The sequel to the award-winning epic will premiere all over the world as part of this deal between huge players in the entertainment industry, offering fans the unique option of total big-screen immersion or convenient home-viewing.

Donnie Yen

Produced by The Weinstein Co. in partnership with Netflix, this dramatic shift away from traditional big film theatrical premieres won’t be the first. According to Netflix, this sequel is only the first of many movies set to bow on Netflix the same day it opens in select Imax theaters. Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer of Netflix, has long wanted the opportunity to attempt this new model, and with most chain movie theaters unlikely to go along with the move, the partnership with TWC and Imax will certainly help protect against any financial pitfalls that might befall this new endeavor.

Ang Lee, director of the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), does not appear to be involved with the sequel, with Yuen Woo-ping (the fight choreographer behind the Kill Bill movies and The Matrix trilogy) directing the film instead. Fans will rejoice however, in the return of both Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu-Lien and Donnie Yen as Silent Wolf. The screenplay was written by John Fusco (Hidalgo) from Wang Du Lu’s book.

The movie began filming in New Zealand in July 2014 and is set to be released on August 28th, 2015, as the finale to next summer’s blockbuster season. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon grossed $209 million worldwide, including $128 million here in the States. The movie also won four Oscars and over 100 other various awards. Fans will no doubt expect the same level of expertise in the new film, whether they watch it in Imax or on Netflix.