Veteran Hong Kong actor Andy Lau may be about to make his English-language movie debut in an Olivier Assayas film, "Boarding Gate," according to a news report Sunday.

Hong Kong actor Andy Lau. Lau will star in a remake of classic action film "Story of a Discharged Prisoner", his company announced. [AFP]

Assayas met with Lau last week at Lau's Hong Kong office, the weekly magazine Next reported.

But Lau may have a scheduling conflict. "Boarding Gate" will film in France in August and in Hong Kong in July _ the same time as Lau is due to start shooting a film by director Derek Yee, according to Next.

"Assayas is very nice. He said he'll try to work around my schedule, but now the scheduling is a headache for everyone," Lau was quoted as saying.

Assayas has also cast actresses Asia Argento and Maggie Q, most recently seen in the Tom Cruise action thriller "Mission: Impossible III," the report said.

Assayas is known for his ties to Chinese cinema. He was once married to Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung, for whom he wrote "Clean," about the trials of a rock star turned single parent. Cheung won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 for the movie.

Assayas also directed Cheung in "Irma Vep."

He has also directed a documentary about acclaimed Taiwanese art-house director Hou Hsiao-hsien.

The 44-year-old Lau, one of the biggest names in the Chinese entertainment world, juggles successful recording and acting careers. But unlike his compatriots Chow Yun-fat and Jet Li, he has not yet ventured into Hollywood.

Lau has said he turned down a role as a cross-dressing Chinese opera diva in the Hollywood love story "M. Butterfly" because filmmakers refused to delete a scene. John Lone eventually accepted the part.

A spokeswoman for Lau didn't immediately return a reporter's call seeking comment.