Teen pop superstar Jay Chow is to take his first movie role.

Initial D is based on a Japanese Anime cartoon, telling the story of a group of boy – and girl racers, and will shoot this summer.

Alongside Jay Chow, young idol Edison Chen also has a leading role in Initial D, and other pop names like Anthony Wong, Jordan Chan and Shawn Yue are also involved.

Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai, the men behind the Hong Kong hit Infernal Affairs series, will direct the film.

To be shot in Japan, the film is looking to run up a budget of just US$10 million.

Japanese star Anne Suzuki, who is set to be the film's leading actress, is even scheduled to make the trip to next year's Cannes Film Festival to promote the film.

(CRI May 20, 2004)