Beijing-based Huayi Brothers has become the first distributor to sign on for Alexi Tan's Blood Brothers, acquiring all rights for mainland China to the $10m period drama which is produced by John Woo and Terence Chang's Lion Rock Productions.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, the film follows three young men who are dragged into the city's seedy underworld of crime and corruption. Daniel Wu and Shu Qi (pictured) star along with Chang Chen, Liu Ye and Tony Yang.

Taiwan's CMC Entertainment is co-financing with Sil-Metropole Organization and also handling international sales.