Chinese film distributor Bona Film Group today announced its film slate for the rest of 2013 and the first half of 2014, as well as Chinese releaases for “Red 2″ and “Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.”
Yu Dong, CEO of the company, delivered a keynote speech at the 2013 Movie Conference, where he discussed the updated slate and the state of the Chinese film industry.
“Our slate for the remainder of 2013 features a number of potential box office hits spanning a variety of genres, including two high-quality imports,” Dong said. “Given the diversity of our releases for the second half of the year and our strong distribution capability, we believe 2013 will become Bona’s best-ever year at the box office.”
21st Century Fox owns 19.9% of Bona, with which it is planning several co-productions.
“Red 2” (pictured above), which opened in the U.S. last month, is set for a Chinese release in September, while “Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” bows August 21 in the U.S, is set to be released in China in the fourth quarter of 2013.
However, relations between Hollywood and China have been strained this year. China has not paid Hollywood in months due to a value-added tax proposed by the Chinese government that cuts into the studio share of the revenue.
Chinese films on Bona’s slate include “Unbeatable,” a MMA film that opened on the first night of the movie conference to favorable response according to Dong, is set to premiere in 2013, as is comedy “My Lucky Star,” action film “Inferno 3D” and crime drama “The White Storm.”
As for 2014, 3D marital arts film “The White-Haired Witch,” action drama “From Vegas to Macau,” action film “Overheard 3” and crime drama “Sunspot” are tentatively scheduled to be released in the first half of the year.
Dong said the Chinese box office reached $1.8 billion in the first half of 2013.