A file photo of Bruce Willis. [Photo: baidu.com]

Movie star Bruce Willis has signed on to join the cast of Chinese language epic 'The Bombing'.

Willis arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday night after signing up for eight days of filming for the movie which is a war drama focusing on life in China during the war against Japanese aggression.

The actor is expected to play an American volunteer who teaches Chinese pilots the skills needed to defeat the Japanese.

'The Bombing' is jointly funded by China Film Group along with private investors and is scheduled to premiere as early as the end of this year. It is hoped that the release will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Xiao Feng who was behind 2012's Hushed Roar will direct the film.