Alibaba Pictures, a leading Chinese film studio, has unveiled a lineup of seven major movies aimed at revitalizing the mainland China box office. These films cover a range of genres including martial arts, drama, history, sci-fi, and comedy, and are part of the company’s second five-year plan. The announcement was made at a significant event during the Shanghai International Film Festival, attended by numerous producers, directors, and stars.
Li Jie, president of Alibaba Pictures, emphasized the need for big productions to keep the film market vibrant. He noted that the mainland China box office had recovered to 85% of its pre-pandemic level last year and currently ranks as the world’s largest in 2024. However, recent weeks have seen a slowdown, with the box office tracking 3% below 2023 levels. Li highlighted the importance of delivering more Chinese blockbusters to ensure the continued prosperity of the film industry.
Alibaba Pictures has been involved in various aspects of the film industry, including investment, production, distribution, and marketing. They have taken on roles such as lead promoter, joint distributor, co-producer, in-house producer, and licensor.
The first of the seven films to be released is a fantasy titled I Am Nobody, directed by Wuershan. This film, set to premiere on July 26, stars young actors Hu Xianxu, Li Wantan, Feng Shaofeng, Narana Erdyneeva, Lan Xiya, and Nashi. It is adapted from a webcomic and explores a supernatural world.
Following this, Xu Zheng’s Upstream, which focuses on the food delivery industry, will hit theaters on August 9. Xu plays the main character, Gao Zhilei, and also directs the film. The cast includes Xin Zhilei, Wang Xiao, and Jia Bing. Alibaba Pictures is the joint producer, lead promoter, and distributor of this film.
Another major film, Fallout, also known as Burning City, is China’s first nuclear radiation disaster film. Directed by Anthony Pun and starring Andy Lau and Karen Mok, it is produced by Hong Kong’s Edko Films and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The other four films are still in production. Blade of the Guardians, directed by Yuen Woo-ping, will start shooting in July, with Wu Jing and Nicholas Tse as the lead actors. This film is based on a comic book and is described as a heroic martial arts movie.
Guan Hu will direct Dongji Island, a story about the sinking of the Lisbon Maru during World War II. The film will focus on fishermen who rushed to rescue the survivors. The cast is currently undergoing diving training, with filming set to begin later this year. Alibaba Pictures is the main producer.
The Decisive Moment is a sci-fi adventure about astronauts trapped in space, directed by Zhang Disha and produced by Huang Jianxin. The cast includes Huang Bo, Gao Ye, and Leo Wu.
Feng Xiaogang’s new project, I Know Who You Are, is in the production design stage. Based on a novel, it is a story of a Communist policeman and a foreign spy that spans from 1949 to over 40 years. Hu Ge and Lei Jiayin will lead the cast, with production starting on November 1.
Alibaba Pictures stated that Chinese blockbusters should focus on quality, industrialization, and large-scale production. Their mission is to reflect themes of individual destiny, family and country, humanistic care, and contemporary resonance. The seven films aim to showcase Chinese culture and address the emotions and experiences of people living in China. Source
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