Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp has applied for co-production status for Warrior’s Gate, on which it is collaborating with Mark Gao Jingdong’s Shanghai-based production and sales outfit Fundamental Films.
The application appeared on the State Administration of Radio Film and TV (SARFT) website in a list of projects that filed during February for co-production status. The news was announced on the site this week.
Little is known so far about the Warrior's Gate project. EuropaCorp couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Overseas filmmakers want China co-production status because films granted the status are treated as domestic films and do not fall under China’s import quota, and usually involve local investment in exchange for local distribution rights.
They stand a much stronger chance of getting a mainland Chinese release, have immunity from blackout periods and a greater revenue share.
Some movies, such as last year’s biggest selling overseas title Iron Man 3 lobbied hard for co-production status but did not get it, and the issue often has proven divisive as both Hollywood and China try to co-operate more.
Fundamental Films and EuropaCorp have a multiyear output deal that stipulates Fundamental will release at least 15 EuropaCorp films in China and that Fundamental will co-produce at least three of those.
At the Berlin Film Festival last month, EuropaCorp said it was going ahead with a reboot of its hit Transporter franchise, greenlighting the first -- Transporter 4 -- and laying plans for two follow-ups, all co-produced with Fundamental Films.
Fundamental’s slate also includes the animation The Prince and the 108 Demons, Replicas with Company Films and Black Frog with Same Player.