WorldFilmGeek Hall of Famers Alexander Nevsky and Joe Cornet are about to unleash The Wide West as ITN Pictures has officially picked up the film for distribution.

The film is inspired by true events: In 1907, the first-ever sumo delegation from Japan, led by the great Hitachiyama, traveled through the United States to Washington D.C., where they met with President Theodore Roosevelt.

Starring real-life sumo champions Hiroki Sumi and Ichi (who are the first sumo wrestlers to lead a feature film), Nevsky plays a gambler who aids the mysterious Japanese travelers against ruthless outlaws who have attacked a small Californian town. Nick Baillie, Tatiana Neva, Kaz Kobayashi and Joe Cornet round out the key cast.

Cornet directed the film from a screenplay from frequent collaborator Craig Hamann. The story came from sumo expert Andrew Freund, who also produced with Nevsky.

Look out for The Wide West soon as the film will be heading to Cannes for international distribution.