HONG KONG — Arclight Films, the L.A. and Australia-based sales agent has picked up international sales rights to “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon,” one of the biggest Asian movies of the year. Arclight will rep the film from Cannes onwards under its Easternlight label.
Sales were previously split between Hong Kong’s Golden Scene, which handled Asia including Japan, and Korean co-producer Taewon Entertainment.
In addition to Arclight deal, pic has recently been boarded by Chinese producer-distrib Poly Bona taking China rights.
The $20 million epic actioner is now lensing in China with Daniel Lee Yan Kong (“A Fighter’s Blues,” “Black Mask”) as helmer. Cast is headed by Andy Lau and Maggie Q, with Sammo Hung, Rongguang Yu, Lung Ti, Charlie Yeung and Andy On.
Pic is based on “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by Luo Guangzhong often cited as one of the four most important pieces of Chinese literature. Vast work has material enough also to provide source for John Woo’s “Red Cliff,” which is in production. “Three Kingdoms” adapted screenplay is by Lee.
Pic is produced by Hong Kong’s Susanna Tsang of Visualizer Film Production and Chung Taewon of Taewon Entertainment, with China’s SIL-Metropole Organization as Chinese partner.
” ‘Three Kingdoms’ is Easternlight’s biggest title since it was launched back in February last year,” said Ying Ye director of Easternlight. “We will be showing exclusive first scenes of the film at our booth in Cannes.”
Easternlight is also handling Soi Cheang’s “Shamo,” a follow up to his brutal “Dog Bite Dog”; sexy literary adaptation “Shanghai Baby”; fish-out-of-water drama “Shanghai Kiss”; and Japanese chiller “Nightmare Detective.”
