Kyle McLachlan, Bruce Greenwood and Joan Chen have been cast in Bruce Beresford's adaptation of the best-selling book, Mao's Last Dancer, which starts shooting in China next month.

Jack Thompson, Aden Young, Amanda Schull and Wang Shungbao (Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress) have also joined the multinational cast.

Paris-based Celluloid Dreams is the international sales agent for the film with Hopscotch and Roadshow distributing in Australia.

Adapted from Li Cunxin's autobiography, the film reteams Shine screenwriter Jan Sardi and producer Jane Scott, who will co-produce with Beijing-based Geng Ling. Filming begins mid-March in China, before moving to the US and Australia.

Several internationally renowned dancers have also been cast in the film including Madeleine Eastoe, Camilla Vergotis and Steven Heathcote. Graeme Murphy, founder of the Sydney Dance Company, is choreographer.

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