The film is known by a different title in almost every major English-language market, none of which use the filmmakers' chosen international title, "Queens of Langkasuka". Indeed, it is titled "Pirates of Langkasuka" in the UK, "Legend of Langkasuka" in Australia and "Legend of the Tsunami Warrior" in North America (despite there being no tsunami in the film).
Opening film of the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.
The film, first announced in January 2005, was initially planned as a trilogy, then a two-part epic with a massive (per Thai film industry standards) combined budget of 200 million baht (approximately 5.3 million US dollars at the time). It was then scaled back to a single film with the budget slashed in half to 100 million baht, which eventually grew to over 140 million baht (approximately 3.7 million US dollars at the time).
The film was initially scheduled to open in Thai cinemas on August 12 2009, coinciding with the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, but fearing the charged political climate in Thailand at the time would result in low audience turnout, Sahamongkol and director Nonzee Nimibutr decided to postpone the release, first to October 8, then October 23 of that same year.
The film premiered on May 15 2008 at the Cannes Film Market with a cut lasting 133 to 140 minutes, which received mixed reviews from critics and low interest from international buyers. This prompted production company Sahamongkol and director Nonzee Nimibutr to rework the film into a 120 minute cut, which is the version which was released in Thai cinemas and on home video around the world.