Director To and executive producer John Chong were joined by stars Richie Ren, Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Francis Ng Chun-yu, Nick Cheung Ka-fai, Roy Cheung Yiu-yeung, Lam Suet and Josie Ho, for a prayer ceremony to launch the HK$35 million film.

The film is produced by Media Asia Films and Milkyway Image.

Director Johnnie To chose Macau as the setting for the film because of its strong European flavor. The alleys, the streets and the architecture have retained their Portuguese and Spanish influences, he said.

With the exception of Josie Ho, the majority of the cast of Exiled are To's longtime collaborators. Richie Ren and Nick Cheung just recently worked with the director for Breaking News; Cheung also starred in Election.

Director To was also looking forward to renewing his collaboration with Francis Ng and Anthony Wong, who he last worked with on The Mission.

Ng, who won a Golden Horse best actor award for his role in The Mission, plays a triad member in the new film. Does he feel any pressure working with To again? I'm not going to let myself dwell on that. The last film was an ensemble. There was no conscious effort to make myself stand out, said the actor.

In the new film, Nick Cheung and Josie Ho play a couple. He wants to leave the triads to start a new life with his pregnant wife but finds it isn't so easy. I think the director cast me because he knows I am about to be a father in real life, Cheung said.