Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Andy Lau and Charlene Choi lead the way for writer and director Felix Chong’s new crime drama, The Goldfinger. Emperor Motion Pictures is out with an official trailer and poster as of Thursday along with a release date in China and Singapore on December 30.
Hard-hitting World War II espionage thriller, Hidden Blade, is releasing on Digital beginning July 18 from Well Go USA. The film comes from award-winning filmmaker Cheng Er (Lethal Hostage, The Wasted Times), and stars Tony Leung (Infernal Affairs franchise, Hero, The Grandmaster), Wang Yibo (Born to Fly), Dong Chengpeng (City of Rock, I am Not Madame Bovary, The Thousand Faces of Dunjia), Zhou Xun (2022’s Hero, Painted Skin, Perhaps Love), Eric Wang (Saturday Fiction, Dying to Survive), and Lei Huang (Farewell My Concubine, Phantom of the Theatre).
Well Go USA’s press pack for director Cheng Er’s latest film, Hidden Blade, partly states that he’s best known for keeping his audiences guessing. That he does, this time with a story set in the early 1940s with events chronicled before, and afterward, amid the Communist party’s campaign as it’s set against the backdrop of the invasion of imperial Japanese forces. The film weaves in its elements and characters from all angles, flashing forward in its efforts to set things in motion for the audience to begin following our main characters and learn more about them.
The past year has been a little bit interesting with a few teasers making the rounds for director Cheng Er’s new World War II spy thriller, Anonymous. Not much happens in either of those teasers, save for offering little pieces here and there of characterization to go by, along with the casting of celebrated actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai to boost the film’s wider marketability.
Stylish action and sweeping shots of various international locales and actor Tony Leung commanding the lens are at the center of Jingle Ma’s latest, Europe Raiders. Now readying an August release throughout Asia nearly thirteen years within its now trilogical induction since Tokyo Raiders in 2000, the official trailer takes the mantle hailing the returning actor once more.
Though it’s taken well over a decade to happen, the return of actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai for Europe Raiders is a much appreciated one for fans who’ve seen the franchise in its endeavors in Tokyo and Seoul. The latest from director Jingle Ma once more at the helm also brings forth the likes of xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage Kris Wu along with actresses Tiffany Tang and Du Juan, and Thai superstar Jeeja Yanin and on that note, the first official teaser is finally stirring about hailing a stylish revival with action that measures up to par courtesy of Jackie Chan stunt team cohort Han Guanhua.
Check out the teaser below!
Apart from its paltry reception in the U.S., Raman Hui’s Monster Hunt bolstered China’s box office with record numbers and was a major hit in the region. Its critical approval also stands firm as a fairly exciting and enthusing endeavor from a director boldly stepping up at the helm following a notable career on several animated projects in the U.S..
As of this Chinese New Year now, fans of the first film will finally get to set foot back into the world Hui helped build, setting the stage for Monster Hunt 2. Storied by Peter Cirlella and scripted once more by Alan Yuen, the sequel further chronicles the adventures of a baby monster destined to become king and prevent a civil war with the help of human allies.
Recent campaigning for the film saw more gags than not with some behind-the-scenes footage to boot. This time, we have some actual footage to share per the narrative with appearances by principals Tony Leung Chui-Wai, and returning cast members Jing Boran and Bai Baihe among others listed.
Pending releases for the film in the U.S. and U.K. remain pending courtesy of Lionsgate. Check out the trailer below!
Acclaimed Port Of Call helmer Philip Yung’s period cop thriller, Theory Of Ambitions, is currently being slated for a late 2018 release. For this, Global Group’s film shingle, Global Group Films Limited has announced a joint investment with Dadi Century Films (Beijing) Co., Ltd and Mei Ah Film Production Co, Ltd in the new movie being designated as a year-end big budget blockbuster with Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Chiu Wai debuting together on screen.
Per the announcement, the film tells of the legend of four senior Chinese police officers in colonial Hong Kong, when corruption was rife, who influenced both the criminal underworld and the police force, but eventually turned their backs on that way of life, paving the way for a new anti-corruption era in Hong Kong. Rounding out the cast are Patrick Tam Yiu Man, Michael Chow Man-Kin, Michael Hui Koon Man, Du Juan, Louis Cheung, Michael Ning, Ron Ng, Tse Kwan Ho, Maggie Hoyee Cheung and Elaine Kam Yin-Ling.
The move also speaks to the PRC’s vast exhibitor industry totalling 49,000 screens comprising Mainland China’s according to SAPPRFT data last month surpassing the U.S. on a global scale. Furthermore, last year’s viewership reached 1.37 billion and by this year the Middle Kingdom is expected to reach RMB55 billion in box office revenue, representing a year-on-year increase of 10%.
“The film market in China is booming. The number and quality of films co-produced in mainland China and Hong Kong have improved significantly and become the mainstream. Recognising this huge potential, the Group has actively sought high-quality projects to meet the enormous demand of mainland audiences for outstanding film productions,” said Dr. Johnny Hon, founder and executive chairman of the Global Group, who is the executive producer of the film. “Also, the Group is committed to introducing excellent Chinese films to the international market and promoting Chinese culture to audiences around the world. Looking forward, the Group will continue to seek cooperation opportunities with top studios and explore quality media projects to offer the best entertainment experience to audiences around the world.”
Leung and Kwok are both currently tapped to tackle Chinese New Year releases this February with Leung starring in Raman Hui’s Monster Hunt 2, and Kwok reprising his role for more action and adventure in The Monkey King 3: Kingdom Of Women.
2015 was a milestone year for burgeoning filmmaker Raman Hui. That CG hybrid creature fantasy, Monster Hunt, became the highest grossing film in China until this year is no easy feat to achieve and took quite the ambitious steps it needed to so and now together with producer Bill Kong, the two are back to see if lighting can strike twice with forthcoming sequel, Monster Hunt 2.
Actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (The Grandmaster, See You Tomorrow) is set to stake his claim in the now-filming Monster Hunt 2 from Edko Films. Raman Hui is currently rolling cameras for a 2018 release with little plot details known while Leung is said to play a role that stands pivotal for our its principal lead CG character from the first film.
Leung will be joined by newly cast ppp icon and actress Li Yuchun and actor Yo Yang along with returning names, Bai Baihe and Jing Boran. Prior to Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid taking the title, Hui’s 2015 debut, Monster Hunt was a milestone hit for first time filmmaker following a career that landed him projects Dreamworks’ Antz, Shrek and Shrek 2, and as co-director for Shrek The Third, among others.
The first film became China’s most successful film in history grossing up to RMB 2.43 billion, as well as earning a raft of awards, including best new director for Hui. Inauspiciously though, the film had a limited release in the U.S. which evidently tanked, which is unfortunate considering how fantastic the film is, and yet this probably won’t deter a big screen release in the U.S. as well considering the growing nature of U.S. and China markets.
I think it’ll be likely, but we’ll see, and should this hit theaters, I would recommend checking it out. And as much as this is a family-friendly work of entertainment, bring the little ones as well!
H/T: Variety
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