A newly released trailer from Hong Kong director Tsui Hark's latest suspense film, "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame", offers a preview of how China's own Sherlock Holmes established his fame.

The one-and-half-minute trailer recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where film buyers from 11 countries in Europe and Asia have purchased distribution rights, Sina.com.cn cited the film's producers as saying on Tuesday.

The film, due out in theaters across China on September 23, stars Andy Lau in the lead role of Di Renjie, a legendary detective and official living under the reign of Wu Zetian (624-705 AD), the only empress of ancient China.

In the film, Di Renjie is a skillful detective and martial-arts expert summoned by Wu Zetian to investigate a series of mysterious deaths.

Director Tsui told Sina.com.cn, "Di Renjie should have his own position in the world's hall of fame for detectives. I hope this film will allow audiences from different cultures to appreciate Di's charisma."

The film's star-studded cast includes Li Bingbing as Di's love interest; Deng Chao, who plays another detective; and Carina Lau as Empress Wu Zetian. Veteran kung fu choreographer Sammo Hung served as the action adviser on the film.