Director Tsui Hark’s latest pairing with The Mermaid helmer, producer Stephen Chow for Journey To The West: Demon Chapter, is currently slated for China release in late January. As for the U.S. and other territories however, the word now is that Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to the new film following the hit success of the 2013 former which starred actor Wen Zhang and actress Shu Qi.
Actor Kris Wu replaces Zhang in the role of the monk, Tang Sanzang per the popular folklore as told in the ancient novels of the same name by author Wu Cheng’en which have also inspired many a film title centered on classic folk hero, The Monkey King. Also starring are Kenny Lin, Yao Chen, Jelly Lin and Bao Beier with a script by Chow, and with Hark and producer Nansun Shi producing.
Variety reports that other than the U.S. and Canada, the deal also includes the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, as well as Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The announcement was made at the CineAsia convention in Hong Kong by Stephen O’Dell, president of international releasing for Sony Int’l.
