China Lion Film Distribution has signed a deal with Pegasus Motion Pictures to handle North American distribution of Sex and Zen 3D: Extreme Ecstasy.

No release date has yet been set but in a statement China Lion CEO Milt Barlow said: “We’re looking at a wide as possible release for this ground breaking film in North America and are currently working with our theatrical partners AMC for the US and Toronto, Cineplex for Vancouver and Consolidated in Hawaii on dating and locations. We believe this film will play a lot wider than our traditional Chinese audience in key cities and are looking to exploit those opportunities.”

The erotic costume drama opened strongly in its native Hong Kong with a $351,000 opening day gross that beat the openings of Avatar and Titanic. In Australia it has taken $1.1m in six weeks.

China Lion, a joint venture between China-based Jiang Yanming and New Zealand-based Barlow, has distributed films from Chinese studios including Huayi Brothers, China Film Group and Golden Sun in North America, Australia and New Zealand.