Hong Kong productionpowerhouse Media Asia has confirmed the directors and cast for its big-budgetcar racing drama, Initial D, which reunites key talent from its hugelysuccessful Infernal Affairs trilogy.

As expected, InfernalAffairs directing duo Andrew Lau and Alan Mak will direct the US$8m comicbook adaptation, which is scheduled to start shooting in Japan at the end ofthe month.

Taiwanese pop star Jay Chouis heading the cast along with Infernal Affairs stars Edison Chen, ShawnYue, Anthony Wong and Chapman To. One of Asia's biggest singing stars, Chou hasturned down scores of movie offers in recent years and makes his acting debutin this film. The female lead is Japanese actress Anne Suzuki whose creditsinclude sci-fi hit Returner and Shunji Iwai's Hana And Alice.

Set in the world of driftracing - a sport that involves keeping control of a car as it screechessideways around a hairpin bend - Initial D tells the story of a tofudelivery boy who is transformed into a racing champion. Media Asia has broughton board real-life drifters to act as consultants and race in the film.

Hong Kong director andfestival jury member Tsui Hark was at one time attached to direct thelong-gestating project, but quit the film earlier this year.

Media Asia's high-profileCannes slate also includes two titles from leading Hong Kong director JohnnieTo - detective thriller Breaking News, a late entrant to officialselection, and an untitled action romance starring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng.The company is also selling action drama, A World Without Thieves, fromChina's most commercially successful director, Feng Xiaogang.