Shu Huan, screenwriter of Chinese blockbuster hits “Lost In Thailand” and “Lost in Hong Kong”, is to direct “My Best Friend Andersen,” a Danish-Chinese joint venture production based on the fairy tales of 19th century writer Hans Christian Andersen.
The film project is backed by Zentropa China, an offshoot of Denmark’s Zentropa Jetavana Entertainment and Shu’s Shengwei Media company. Jetavana is the company formed by Ivy Zhong, former head of Galloping Horse entertainment.
The film is pitched as an “adventure representing an exciting combination of comedy, fantasy and great story telling” and is primarily targeted at Chinese audiences.
It will be shot in Odense, Denmark, the hometown of Andersen and in China from August 2016. It is expected to be released in 2017.
Danish media has reported that the Odense city authorities will invest $570,000 in the film, as a move to boost Chinese tourism to the city. Shu’s “Lost In Thailand,” which grossed close to $200 million in mainland theaters, previously had that effect with Thailand’s Chiang Mai.
"Shu Huan’s vision is to renew the Chinese comedy genre, using fantasy elements from the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen and integrating the humoristic touch, which he is especially known for. The target group will be young adults and family audiences,” Zentropa China said in a statement.
"When I first read the Danish script and met with Zentropa through Bridging the Dragon, I had no doubt about the great potential of this story and co-operation,” said Shu. “I want to take this film to a new level both story wise and visually. This will be a film for the young generation and the whole family. Grandparents can take their children and grandchildren to the cinema and be entertained in the most magical and fulfilling way.”
Andersen wrote 157 fairy tales, 5 novels, 5 travelogues, some 1,000 poems, and 60 plays.