Awards-winning actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai (right) teams up with Kris Wu, a fashion icon followed by 34 million fans on Sina Weibo, in the upcoming action comedy Europe Raiders. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Centering around a powerful high-tech device that can control satellites in outer space, the new film, which was shot predominantly in Milan, Venice, Rome and Florence, follows a team of special agents led by Leung's character who try to prevent an evil scheme from unfolding in Europe.

Leung, 56, recalls how he had to shoot a lot of action sequences for the film.

During one scene set in a snowfield, he was wrapped in a thick ski suit that had around 7,000 LED lights set into it before he was filmed crashing through a giant glass window.

"Some sections of the electrical circuit were wrongly connected and overheated, burning a hole through to my underwear. It was pretty sore-I could even smell smoke," recalls Leung.

In another sequence filmed on location in Italy that featured a rooftop chase and fight, actors had to jump from building to building.

"Many of the stunts were pretty dangerous. We had to practice them over and over again to get the best effect," says Leung.

Tang, who stars as a special agent who has a crush on Leung's character, faced similar challenges. She traveled to Europe two months ahead of filming to receive firearms training and to practice high-wire stunts.

In what might come as a surprise to fans, fashion icon and pop idol Wu-who has over 34 million followers on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo-plays a role quite unlike his normal onstage persona.

Something of a nerd but also a genius hacker, Wu's character is the creator of the satellite-controlled device which they call the "hand of God".

For the director, Ma's biggest challenge was to bring a fresh approach to the movie in an market that is dominated by special effects-laden blockbusters.

Traveling to Europe on at least seven occasions, Ma finally settled on Italy as a location in the hope that the country's picturesque scenery and historic sites would provide the ideal backdrop to attract new audiences.

But one key chase scene in the film, which cost more than $1 million to make, was actually shot in the United States' northwestern state of Alaska, adds Ma.

Originally planned as Hong Kong's answer to the enduring James Bond franchise, Ma's Raiders series began in 2000 with the first Tokyo Raiders installment, the second highest-grossing film in Hong Kong that year, followed by Seoul Raiders in 2005.

The latest installment of the franchise will face some stiff competition at the Chinese box office as it faces off with seven other new releases scheduled for Friday, including Sony Pictures Animation's Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.