Soi Cheang will direct Kowloon Walled City, an adaptation of the popular 2010 cult manhwa, “City Of Darkness”, from creators Andy Seto and “Yuyi”.
Director Jia Zhangke’s resumé is one that’s not without its fair share of intrigue and controversy. Regarded highly as a “Sixth Generation” undergroud filmmaker, he’s been well awarded in festivals throughout the world for up to 15 years as one with an artful approach to cinema that touches grimly close to the turmoil and inflammatory issues embedded in China’s own history and evolution over the years.
Such an approach hasn’t hugely sat well with China’s own governing bodies, especially with Zhangke’s 2013 drama, A Touch Of Sin, which was partly state-backed and subsequently denied a release that year apart from its screenings elsewhere. Still, as far as accomplishments go, Zhangke now finds himself embarking as a prospective director of his first martial arts action movie, announced this weekend by Hong Kong’s own Media Asia Films at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Screendaily reports the late Qing Dynasty-set film will focus on the clashes between scholars, bandits and local officials after the abolition of the Confucian-centric imperial examination system. That said, Media Asia general manager and international sales head, Fred Tsui, partook in the announcement, affirming that Zhangke’s penchant for grounding his films in the similar themes and tones he’s become known for will still be present while exploring his own vision for stylish martial arts action cinema. “The script touches on social and geopolitical issues, as Jia Zhangke’s films usually do,” said Tsui, “…but he’s also a huge fan of Hong Kong-style action so this will be a martial arts genre title,”.
Fellow film auteur Johnnie To is producing Zhangke’s film which is expected to begin rolling cameras this Spring. To’s latest producing credit, Trivisa, and directing gig on the Louis Koo and Vicky Zhao crime pic, Three, are set up for screening audiences at the European Film Market this week.
The news of Zhangke’s new martial arts venture comes as North America currently awaits a pending release of his 2015 Cannes headliner, Mountains May Depart, courtesy of Kino Lorber and starring wife and actress Zhao Tao. His yet-to-be titled Qing martial arts drama joins one of several of Media Asia’s titles this week including Gordon Chan’s recently wrapped God Of War and John Woo’s crime novel readaptation of Sato Junya’s 1976 film, Manhunt which is currently casting.
Off the heels of star-studded events at this year’s Hong Kong FilMart, a second trailer is out for the forthcoming release of the new action-packed international thriller, Helios. The film just recently made headlines as it landed a place on the latest release slate for Media Asia Entertainment Group as the company celebrated its 20th anniversary last month, launching a “new era” in the business of film at home and abroad.
Helios is directed by Sunny Luk and Longman Leung with actors Nick Cheung, Jacky Cheung, Shawn Yue and Chang Chen leading the principle cast. A release date is still pending.
Check out the new trailer, and feel free to watch Media Asia’s celebratory vignette in the following embed announcing their new line-up, including Helios, Urban Games and many more.
SYNOPSIS:
South Korea’s most wanted criminal Red Bandit uses the uranium stolen from North Korea to make a mobile nuclear bomb, which is scheduled to change hands in Hong Kong in the next 6 hours.
Helios – Trailer 2
H/T: Filmsmash
International martial arts action star and filmmaker Donnie Yen took to his blog this week to share news of his business venture alongside his wife, Cissy Wang, and Peter Lam, chairman of Media Asia Group and new business partner for their newly launched production company, Superhero Films. The new partnership is the latest to come since Yen became incredibly busy with a new slate of films to be pushed this year, including Special Identity and the 3D releases for The Monkey King, Iceman Cometh, and Ip Man which is still in development.
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