Easternlight to distribute 'Shamo'

Easternlight has picked up distrib rights for "Shamo," helmer Soi Cheang's follow-up to "Dog Bite Dog."

Pic will preem May 17 at Cannes.

Easternlight, the Asian division of sales agency Arclight Films, also handled "Dog Bite Dog," which drew rare recognition for a Hong Kong pic.

"Shamo" promises more of the same brutal violence, although with different ratings. "Dog Bite Dog" earned the highest rating for Hong Kong theaters with a category III, equivalent to an R rating in the U.S., but "Shamo" received a category II.

The $3 million pic, produced by Hong Kong's Same Way Prod., is about a psychotic antihero who takes up competitive fighting after being beaten nearly to death at a prison for boys -- where he's serving time for killing his parents. Pic, which is still in post-production, stars Shawn Yue ("Infernal Affairs") in the lead, along with Masato ("Lethal Ninja"), Dylan Kuo ("Black Night"), Francis Ng ("Exiled"), Bruce Leung ("Kung Fu Hustle"), Annie Liu ("Mob Sister") and Ryo Ishibashi ("The Grudge").

Same Way will handle distribution in Asia. Pic is tentatively skedded to preem in the region Sept. 7.

- Story by Vicki Rothrock, Variety.com