The National Basketball Association has teamed up with China's Shanghai Film Group to produce a Chinese-language film, featuring NBA players and Asian actors. The deal marks the first time the NBA has partnered with a film studio outside the U.S.

Amazing, which is set to hit theaters next summer, stars Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony and Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, as well as actors Huang Xiaoming, Kim Joong and Eric Mabius ("Ugly Betty"). The film is in production now through November in Beijing, Shanghai and New York.

Currently, NBA-branded merchandise is available in more than 30,000 Chinese retailers. The sports organization also operates eight retail stores at the Shanghai World Expo Culture Center, which opened on May 1. The center is a joint venture between the NBA and AEG. In 2008, NBA China launched, a $253 million investment from the NBA, Disney/ESPN, Bank of China Group Investment, Legend Holdings, China Merchant Group and Li Ka Shing Foundation.