DeSanto boards 'GODS'

BEIJING -- "Transformers" and "X-Males" producer Tom DeSanto has boarded U.S.-China co-production "GODS," that has already passed the censors at China's film bureau. He joins producer Steve Chicorel and professional producer Baiyi Chen, who also co-written the trilogy of books that DeSanto is adapting. "GODS" is dependant on china classic "Development of the Gods," the industry reinterpretation from the fall and rise from the Zhou Empire, and features 108 demi gods with unique forces. It counts among the major epics of Chinese literature, and DeSanto has referred to the project as "The almighty from the Rings" meets "X-Males." DeSanto is among the panelists within the second annual U.S.-China Summit in La this month. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com