The Russians are coming. Sort of.

While hunky Russian action star and filmmaker Alexander Nevksy has been scouting locations on O'ahu for the filming of his new thriller, this isn't necessarily the beginning of a Slavic invasion.

Known as the "Russian Arnold Schwarzenegger" — like the California governor, he's a former bodybuilder — Nevsky is a hit with post-Soviet audiences as a 6-foot-7 action hero with biceps the size of grapefruits. Currently residing in Los Angeles, he's now trying to corner the U.S. film market.

His new project, "The Magic Man," a murder mystery with a popular stage magician as the prime suspect, will likely be set at a Waikiki hotel. Nevsky will write, produce and star in the movie, which will be filmed in English.

Though his fans largely speak Russian, Nevsky makes his movies in English for international marketing appeal. His 2005 muscle flick "Moscow Heat," complete with 12 exploding helicopters, broke box-office records in Russia, was bought by film distributors in 62 countries and was distributed on DVD by Universal Home Video in the U.S.

Nevsky, in a thick Russian accent, answered five questions about his upcoming project.

Q. Why Hawai'i?

A. The last movie I did, called "Treasure Raiders," it's with David Carradine. Actually, David, he was in "Kill Bill," it was him who told me to shoot it in America. ... It's supposed to take place in Moscow, but we changed the script and now it takes place in America. ... We were thinking about Las Vegas, but David told me we should try Hawai'i because there are so many beautiful hotels.

Q. Is it difficult to convince Russian investors to fund a Hawai'i-located film? What kind of budget are you thinking of?

A. Good thing is, I'm producing, so it's my word and a couple of my partners. I called them yesterday, and I told them we should shoot here. Because of our power in Russia, me and my partners, we can produce movies and we can do it independently. ... Right now we're thinking about $5 (million) to $6 million (budget). It's less expensive than my other films. It's not a big action movie. It'll be more like a psychological thriller, more smart.

Q. You film your movies in English, yet they are mainly for Russian audiences. How do filmgoers back home feel about that?

A. If you talk about the Russian movie business in general, they definitely want to see movies in Russian. ... For me, it's kind of an exception. Like 10 years ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger, (audiences) didn't care if his movies were in English. They would go to his movies for him. That's the same thing in Russia. I have a huge fan base there.

Q. How do you feel about being referred to as the "Russian Arnold Schwarzenegger"?

A. The Russian media started to call me that 12 years ago. I was a bodybuilder. I spent a lot of time in the gym. I kind of like it. I think he's a great role model. I can't say we're friends, but I know him personally. I think that Arnold showed the way, not only for bodybuilders but for regular people who are ready to achieve their goals. I always take it as a compliment.

Q. Your films have included some well-known international stars. Have anyone in mind for "The Magic Man?"

A. We had Michael York in "Moscow Heat," David Carradine in "Treasure Raiders." ... We want to shoot probably in the middle of July or closer to August, and at that point, I want to use one of the Baldwin brothers, maybe Alec Baldwin. We're in talks with Stephen Baldwin, his younger brother, and I want to use David Carradine for a cameo because it was him who suggested we come to Hawai'i.

(Nevsky said there was a possibility that local actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa would also be involved.)

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.