Legend of the Demon Cat re-creates the glory of the imperial capital Chang'an. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chen is known for reinventing Chinese cinema by infusing poetry into it, and began doing this with his internationally acclaimed Yellow Earth (1984).

Literature and literary giants are key in the story of Legend of the Demon Cat. And the movie blends in household names, such as Tang poets Bai Juyi (772-846) and Li Bai (701-762) besides the Japanese monk Kukai and scholar Abe no Nakamaro.

In the film, Bai is played by actor Huang Xuan. Kukai is played by Sometani Shota. And Japanese model-actor Hiroshi Abe is Nakamaro.

As for the concubine, Yang is portrayed as a woman with mixed parentage. Taiwan actress Sandrine Pinna, who has a French father and a Chinese mother, is Chen's pick.

Referring to the film and its literary bent, Chen says the Tang empire had more than 10,000 poets who penned more than 40,000 poems, making the dynasty a golden age for poetry.

"The quality and quantity of poems written in the dynasty is unprecedented and unrivaled. And I believe Chinese cinema can benefit from the centuries-old legacy," says Chen.

Speaking about the future, the 65-year-old director says he will remain innovative.