A scene from My New Sassy Girl. [Photo/China Daily]

Around 15 years after hit romantic comedy My Sassy Girl made wave across Asia, a remake will hit the big screen.

My New Sassy Girl, jointly produced by China and South Korea, will hit mainland theaters on April 22.

With a somewhat new story, the movie re-creates the spirit of the 2001 classic: A man endures the abuse of his girlfriend.

Although the South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun is missing from the new cast, veteran actor Cha Tae-hyun reprises his role as the tolerant boyfriend.

Chinese model-actress Song Qian plays the role of the new sassy girl.

The protagonist couple — who had secret crushes on each other back in primary school — get married when they reunite many years later.

The new movie elaborates on the romance, and love can be "blind, risky, and unpredictable" theme, says lead actor Cha at a recent media event in Beijing.

Directed by South Korean veteran Jo Geun-shik, the movie also stars Japanese-American actress Mina Fujii and South Korean actor Jin-ho Choi.

Jo says the movie, which has accumulated goodwill thanks to the 2001 classic, has more Chinese elements in it compared to the earlier film.