As the film market in China is experiencing a resurgence near North America, the budgets for Chinese-language films are also beginning to rise significantly.
Typically, Hollywood blockbuster productions have budgets ranging from $100 million to $200 million. However, projects aimed at the national markets in Asia tend to exceed $50 million only on rare occasions.
Earlier this year, The King’s Avatar became the highest-grossing Chinese-language film of all time, earning a staggering $550 million at the box office, with a production budget of only $60 million.
Asura is recognized as the highest-budget film produced by a Chinese entity. Image: Alibaba.
Many prominent figures in the Chinese film industry argue that producing a comedy film starring Stephen Chow does not require a high budget to achieve success, and it is common for studios in China to discuss investments with media outlets.
Currently, China is investing in a $100 million film project being produced independently. The Hollywood Reporter has reported that the production team has chosen to release the first images from the film.
Asura marks the first directorial venture for Zhang Yimou in a decade. However, he is not a stranger to the industry, having directed several blockbuster films in Hollywood over the past 20 years.
Ngô Lỗi is cast in the lead role in Asura, a project involving many notable talents currently making waves in Hollywood. Image: Alibaba.
In addition to the many international relations established, Zhang Yimou has attracted a number of talents in the film industry, including costume designer Ngila Dickson from The Lord of the Rings, sound designer Martín Hernández from the blockbuster The Revenant, and visual effects supervisor Charlie Iturriaga from Deadpool and Fast & Furious 7.
Nonetheless, the main production team remains a domestic company focused on exploring the Chinese market. The film is directed by Duan Chengjian, the producer of the blockbuster Transformers: Age of Extinction, which grossed $105 million at the box office.
Currently, Zhang Yimou is overseeing the casting process, with the lead roles assigned to well-known actors Lưu Gia Linh and Lưu Đức Hoa. However, the main roles have been assigned to emerging star Ngô Lỗi, who has yet to appear in films outside of the Chinese market. One foreign actor in the film is Matthew Knowles, who frequently appears in various Chinese dramas.
The film is being shot at various locations across China. Image: Alibaba.
Currently, Asura is still in the filming phase at various locations in China, including the Xinjiang region. The film draws inspiration from the mythical Asura realm in Buddhism, depicting the struggles for dominance and the preservation of social order.
With an investment from Alibaba Group led by founder Jack Ma, Asura is set to be a three-part series, with the first installment scheduled for release in the summer of 2018.
Source: Zing
