According to Variety, Kyle McLachlan, Bruce Greenwood and Joan Chen will topline Bruce Beresford's adaptation of the bestselling Aussie tome Mao's Last Dancer, due to begin lensing in China next month.

They join Jack Thompson, Aden Young, Amanda Schull and Shungbao Wang in the pic based on the autobiography of dancer Li Cunxin, who escaped China toward the end of the Cultural Revolution and later migrated to Australia.

The project reteams Shine scribe Jan Sardi and producer Jane Scott, who will work with Chinese co-producer Geng Ling.

Among the A-grade dancers who have inked for the pic are Australian Ballet principal Madeleine Eastoe and ex-Australian Ballet principals Camilla Vergotis and Steven Heathcote.