"It's unbelievable ... I'm really excited," Seann William Scott said about "Bulletproof Monk," the new movie he's currently shooting in Canada. "It's quite a bit of a change from 'American Pie 2.' "

With its heavy martial-arts action, an obscure comic book mini-series as source material, plot points including a magical scroll and a fulfilled prophecy and "Mission: Impossible 2" director John Woo as its producer, "Bulletproof Monk" is about as far away from Stifler as the young actor can get.

"It's got a 'Crouching Tiger, [Hidden Dragon],' 'Indiana Jones' vibe," Scott said, speaking at the 2002 MTV Movie Awards shortly after receiving an award for kissing "Pie" costar Jason Biggs. "For me it's a huge opportunity to do something different and kick a little ass and not get in trouble for it. I think people are just gonna love it. I think it's gonna be amazing."

For Scott, getting into shape for "Bulletproof Monk" required a long period of fight training, much of it done while hanging from "Matrix"-like wires.

"We trained for about four months in three different kinds of martial arts. The wirework that we did is very different than what we've seen. It's much more real. But you'll still appreciate it quite a bit ... I think people are going to be surprised. I haven't had a chance to test my skills out in the real world, but it's very cool."

The action found in "Bulletproof Monk" may be new territory for Scott, but it's old hat for his co-star. Chow Yun-Fat, who starred in Woo's seminal Hong Kong classics "The Killer" and "Hard-Boiled," plays the movie's title character.

"This is the first movie he's done since 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' " Scott enthused. "Yun-Fat plays a character who, back in the early '40s in Tibet was, by his master, passed on the protection of this sacred scroll. ... When someone gets a hold of it they can take over the world and be in control of the four elements. Germany is losing the war, Hitler assigns his right hand man to find the scroll and Yun-Fat escapes. While he's in control of the scroll, he doesn't age.

"Come to the present day, he meets me, a character named Kar who's this street kid," Scott explained. "And he believes that I'm starting to fulfill the prophecies and that I'm the new protector of the scroll. And the Nazi is still after it, so ... It's very cool. Visually, it's gonna be stunning."

Scott's promise of "stunning" visuals is easy to believe, considering that "Bulletproof Monk" is being helmed by video director Paul Hunter. Although this is his first major motion picture, Hunter's resume reads like a who's-who of rock and pop music. He's directed clips for everyone from P. Diddy and Mariah Carey to Snoop Dogg, Everclear, Jennifer Lopez and TLC. His notable credits include Eminem's "The Way I Am" and Marilyn Manson's stylishly provocative mini-epic, "The Dope Show."

Hunter's "Bulletproof Monk" cast also includes model-turned-actress James King ("Slackers"), Mako ("Pearl Harbor"), and Karel Roden ("Blade II"). Currently in production, the film is expected to hit theaters this fall.