The next film by director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow ), Farewell Atlantis, will start shooting in Vancouver this week.

The film’s ensemble cast includes Woody Harrelson, John Cusack, and Thandie Newton. Among the cast will be Vancouver actors Chang Tseng (who recently completed Dim Sum Funeral ) and Osric Chau (Kung Fu Killer ).

Chau will play the brother of a character portrayed by Chin Han (3 Needles, The Dark Knight ).

“When I first read the script, I hadn’t heard much of the significance of 2012,” Chau said. “The Mayan civilization believed that we are living in the fourth world right now, created by the gods. December 21, 2012, the fourth world will reach the same life span that the third world endured.…This movie is one of the endless scenarios that might unfold at that time, and my character is one of the many trying to survive.”