An interesting TV channel project HBO Asia Original и China Movie Channel - a duology of TV films dedicated to the classic kung fu heroes of ancient China, successfully launched on silver screens, and may be continued.
As we have wrote (and even posted trailers), the project is divided into two feature films: "Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So" и "Shadow Strike Master: Wong Kei Ying". He played the leading role in the first film. Jan Kao (“Aspirin”), and in the second - Sun Haoran (TV series “Hero Valkyrie”). Both films are directed by an action director and longtime collaborator of the Chinese cinema classic Corey Yuen - Guo Jianyong. Master Yuen himself took on the duties of film producer and fight choreographer.
The films were made in Mandarin, but were shown on television with Chinese and English subtitles, since they were also broadcast in the United States. Here's what the head of HBO Asia had to say about it Jonathan Spink:
In addition to ensuring that the films' main audience is not only Chinese-speaking people, this project also marks our cable network's first collaboration with talent from China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So tells the story of an ambitious boy without a family, Seo Chan, who, for the sake of self-indulgence, decides to become a champion in martial arts competitions at the imperial court. However, the guy is mixed up in a political conspiracy, and now, in order not to lose everything, So must improve his combat equipment in order to take revenge and find his true love.
Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying tells the story of Wong Kei-Ying, an honest doctor from Canton who is tricked into helping the local corrupt governor. Now Kay-In wants to take revenge on the offender and overthrow the official. To do this, he must learn the technique of striking naked without a shadow.
"Beggar So" and "Wong Kei Ying" made their silver screen debut December 25 and 26, 2016 years respectively. Viewers greeted the films very warmly, making ratings for the channels where they were broadcast. This means that the films will be continued, because... the project was originally planned as an anthology of stories about Chinese heroes.
It has not yet been announced when the films will be released on media.
Chinese film company Alibaba Pictures spread the news that it had begun the pre-production stage of a fantasy epic called Legend of the Ancient Sword (Gu Jian Qi Tan), which is due to be released in 2018.
This film is interesting because it is based on a popular online game that combines both Western fantasy elements and traditional Chinese culture.
Famous pop singer and actor Wang Leehom (“Big Soldier”, “Cyber”) will play the main role in the film in a duet with the popular TV series actress Victoria Song ("My Best Friend's Wedding")
The director of the film is the omnipresent Renny Harlin, who, apparently, has finally given up on his never properly developed career in Hollywood. In 2016, we already saw a Chinese-made film by Renny Harlin. We're talking about the movie, of course. "On the Trail" (in Russian box office - "Inveterate Partners") from Jackie Chan starring.
Nothing more is known about the project, but the creators of the future film shared a promotional poster.
We'll keep you posted.
The first footage of the film has appeared online.
Added footage from the film Legend of the Ancient Sword.