CHINA: THE PANDA ADVENTURE

OPENS JUNE 22nd

CHINA: THE PANDA ADVENTURE is the true story of Ruth Harkness, a fiercely independent woman who travels to the mysterious forests of China to follow in her late husband's footsteps and achieve his dream of bringing the first live Giant Panda to America.

China, 1936. After her husband dies in the dense bamboo forests of China, Ruth McCombs Harkness (Maria Bello) leaves her flourishing fashion business in America and embarks on her own journey of self discovery. Ruth is intent on fulfilling her husband's dream of showing the world the true, gentle nature of the Giant Panda.

As her expedition makes its treacherous journey from Shanghai, up the Yangtze River, through the rugged Min Valley and into the isolated Wolong forests, Ruth must rely on her wits and her determination to survive as she races to find the mysterious creature before a band of trophy-hunting poachers.

This biographical adventure stars Maria Bello, best known for her leading role on ER as the passionate and headstrong pediatrician Dr. Anna Del Amico, and who is emerging as one of Hollywood's up and coming film stars. She co-starred in Permanent Midnight with Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Hurley, and with Mel Gibson in Paramount's Payback. Bello made her television debut as a series regular opposite Scott Bakula in the spy-adventure series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. She also appears in Jerry Bruckheimer's Coyote Ugly, and in Duets which co-stars Gwynneth Paltrow.

Directed by noted documentary and feature filmmaker Robert Young (Dominick and Eugene, Ballad of Georgio Cortez) and produced by Antoine Compin and Charis Horton (T-REX: Back to the Cretaceous, Cirque du SoleilŪ /The Journey of Man) and executive produced by John Wilcox, CHINA: THE PANDA ADVENTURE was adapted for the screen by Jeanne Rosenberg (The Black Stallion) from the autobiography by Ruth Harkness.