Chinese action star Jet Li's Monkey King look. [File Photo: yahoo.com.cn]

Chinese action stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li will team up for the first time to star a new film inspired by legendary classical Chinese novel "Journey to the West" written during the Ming Dynasty.

According to investor Huayi Brothers Company, Jet Li and Jackie Chan will play two famous roles respectively: Monkey King and Monk Sandy, derived from "Journey to the West." However, the movie's plot is totally different from the original novel.

The two action stars will take on the challenge to play these two classical roles with brand new characteristics under a totally different plot.

The official name for the movie has not yet been decided.

Chinanews.com reported on Friday that the lead actress might be Liu Yifei and Disney animation "Lion King" director Rob Minkoff will be invited to direct the movie.

The story of "Journey to the West" is so popular in China that it has become part of the repertoire of Chinese operas, TV series and comic books.

The US$70 million-budget movie is scheduled to begin shooting later this year.