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Weinsteins buy Thai

Brothers fall hard for martial arts actioner

By IAN MOHR

Tony Jaa takes an elephant to task in 'Tom Yum Goong,' which the Weinstein Co. will release in the U.S.

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NEW YORK -- Bob and Harvey Weinstein have picked up "Tom Yum Goong," the latest vehicle from martial arts star Tony Jaa ("Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior"), in multiple territories.

Pic -- penned, helmed and produced by Prachya Pinkaew ("Ong-Bak") -- follows Jaa as a fighter who heads to Australia to retrieve stolen elephants belonging to the Thai king. Along the way, he teams with an Aussie gumshoe to crack the case.

Weinstein Co. will handle domestically, as well as in Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Pic bows in Asia Aug. 11.

"Tony Jaa is a martial arts sensation whose action sequences are masterful and intoxicating," said Harvey Weinstein."Ong-Bak," distribbed earlier this year domestically by Magnolia Pictures, grossed $4.6 million and took in more than $10 million overseas.

Deal was negotiated for the Weinsteins' company by Agnes Mentre and Barry Littman, who bought the pic from TF1. Michelle Krumm brought the pic to Weinstein Co.