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Cast members and crew promote the upcoming action movie "Bodyguards and Assassins" in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on November 12, 2009. [CRI]

"Bodyguards and Assassins," an all-star film about a group of bodyguards protecting Sun Yat-Sen from assassins in 1905 Hong Kong, premiered Thursday on the 143rd anniversary of the birth of the foremost pioneer of China's revolution.

Lead cast members, including Leon Lai, Donnie Yen and Fan Bingbing, joined director Teddy Chen and producers Peter Chan and Huang Jianxin at the ceremony in Nanjing in eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

On the same day, the stars visited Sun Yat-Sen's mausoleum in the city to pay respect to the revolutionary figure.

The actor who portrays Sun Yat-Sen in the film has not yet been disclosed, but director Chen says he will very much resemble Sun with the help of Hollywood makeup artists.

The film's star-studded cast also includes Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang, Hu Jun and Li Yuchun. Chinese basketball star Mengke Bateer also has a role.

The movie's release date is set for December 18.

Cast members Donnie Yen (left) and Fan Bingbing promote the upcoming action movie "Bodyguards and Assassins" in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on November 12, 2009. [CRI]