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SEOUL -- "D-War," a long-gestating effects-heavy monster movie produced in South Korea and shot in L.A., will receive a Stateside bow in late August via Freestyle Releasing.

Starring Jason Behr and Amanda Brooks, the English-language pic tells the story of a giant serpent that emerges from a past era to smash its way through downtown Los Angeles.

Company is said to be aiming for a 1,500-screen release.

Pic is repped internationally by Korean major Showbox, which unveiled an earlier edit of the film at AFM 2006.

Showbox will release the film in South Korea on Aug. 2.

Budget for the feature, which was entirely financed in South Korea, has been pegged at $70 million. However, after subtracting start-up technology costs for local effects house Younggu Art, Showbox is listing the budget at $32 million before P&A costs.

Helmer Shim Hyung-rae has a long history of producing sci-fi-related pics in South Korea, most recently with "Yonggary" (1999).

However, latest pic -- South Korea's most expensive ever -- marks a huge leap in ambition.