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Here is your first look at Zoe Saldana in the set of the crime drama Blood Ties, filming last week in Harlem, New York. Directed by Guillame Canet (Tell No One), the 1970-set ensemble film stars Clive Owen, Billy Crudup (pictured), Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, James Caan, and Noah Emmerich.

Blood Ties was acquired by Lionsgate at Cannes for theatrical distribution in the UK.

The film, based on Bruno and Michel Papet's French novel Les liens du sang, centers on Crudup's character, who asks his convict older brother, played by Clive Owen, to "go back into the underworld to help out the family.” 

The french novel in which this upcoming film is based on has been previously adapted to the screen, in the 2008 French film by the same name (Les liens du sang), also known as Rivals in the UK. In that French adaptation, Blood Ties' director Canet co-starred in the role played by Billy Cudrup in Canet's new screen adaptation.

Ties, penned by Canet and James Gray, is still in production and it's expected to be released sometime in 2013. 

Watch the trailer for the 2008 French screen adaptation Rivals. Below it, see the set pics below, courtesy of DailyMail.co.uk.

 Not happy: Zoe's character later took out her anger and frustration on a car

Disco diva: Zoe was sporting a printed shirt, teal flares and clogs for her Seventies inspired ensemble

Warm: The Avatar star seemed smitten with Billy as they filmed the romantic scenes for the gangster thriller

Pensive: Weighty matters appeared to be being discussed at this point in the scene

Period piece: The duo seemed to relish donning their 70s outfits and walking on the beach for the upcoming gangster thriller

Lights, camera, action: The 33-year-old actress was tended to by a team of make up artists and production personnel