Hong Kong’s We Distribution has sold Cinema Popular’s $23m action thriller Bodyguard & Assassins to E1 Entertainment for the UK and Canada, CJ Entertainment for Korea and Gulf Films for the Middle East.

Produced by Peter Ho-Sun Chan and Huang Jianxin, and directed by Teddy Chen, the film tells the story of a foiled assassination attempt on the founder of modern China, Dr Sun Yat-sen.

The film will receive a wide release across nine Asian territories on December 18. CJ plans to release it in Korea in January.

We Distribution is also launching sales on The Return Of The Incredible Wu Xia Couple at the AFM. Described as a Mr & Mrs Smith-style romantic action comedy, the film is directed by Vincent Kuk and stars Sandra Ng. Production is scheduled to start in December.

Meanwhile, Dante Lam’s period actioner Flying Guillotines is scheduled to start shooting for Cinema Popular in spring 2010.

We Distribution is the sales arm affiliated to Cinema Popular, a production joint venture between Peter Chan, Huang Jianxin and Beijing-based Bona International.