HBO Asia and mainland China’s China Movie Channel are to co-produce a slate of martial arts-themed TV movies.
The first two — titled “Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So” and “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying” — will be executive produced by renown action director Corey Yuen.
They will premiere on CMC channels in China and concurrently across 23 Asian territories on HBO, and RED by HBO, with subtitles where appropriate.
Production of the pair is now under way at China’s Hengdian studios. Direction is by action choreographer and director Guo Jian Yong (“So Close”.) Singaporean screenwriter, Koh Teng Liang, is among a team of writers from China responsible for the screenplay of “Shadowless Kick.”
HBO Asia presents a lineup of Hollywood and independent studios, licensed from Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. In the last couple of years, it has also embarked a local production program with shows including “Halfworlds,” which is now shooting its second series.
"In expanding our production capabilities in North Asia to match audience appetite, HBO Asia is privileged to draw on CMC’s strong domestic production expertise while entertaining and inspiring viewers across the region with China’s vivid culture and stories. Apart from being HBO Asia’s very first Chinese language production and approach to the genre, this also marks the network’s first collaboration with talents from China, Hong Kong and Singapore,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia.
"This is the first time CMC is doing a co-production of original TV movies. Through this partnership, we hope to exchange knowledge and know-how in the production of original content, and together with HBO Asia, introduce the essence of our culture through martial arts – one of the most iconic representations of the Chinese heritage,” said Cao Yin, president and MD of China Movie Channel.
The state-owned company operates China’s only national movie network CCTV-6 and three premium subscription channels, CHC Family, CHC Action and CHC HD.