Germany's Beta Cinema hasunveiled details of $10m biopic, Mongol - The Early Years Of Genghis Khan, which starts shooting in July with Japanese starAsano Tadanobu playing the Mongol warrior.

Directed by Russia's SergeiBodrov with Hong Kong-based Philip Lee (Hero) and Sergey Selyanov (Brother) producing, the film brings together talent andfinancing from Russia, Germany, China and Kazakhstan.

Russia's CTB Film Companyand Andreevskiy Flag Film Company are producing with Germany's X-Filme CreativePool and Kinofabrika and Neftex in Kazakhstan.

Beta has worldwide rightsand is close to concluding a sale to the US.

The film's top-flight crewalso includes Oscar-winning costume designer Emi Wada and action choreographerNicky Lee whose credits include New Police Story and Rush Hour 2.