A TV series based on “Fearless” and “Cold War”, two of Hong Kong’s best action films of the 21st century, is now being developed.
The switch to television represents a major expansion and diversification for Edko Films, the studio headed by legendary producer, financier, and CEO Bill Kong (“Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”, “Monster Hunt” and “Mulan”).
The original 2006 film “Fearless” was an iconic martial arts portrayal of Huo Yangya directed by Ronnie Tong and starring Jet Li. It gained studio-level distribution in several regions through Buena Vista, UIP, and Sony Pictures Releasing.
“Cold War” is a 2012 crime action movie that features a spy character inside the Hong Kong Police. Written and directed by Longman Leung and Sunny Locke, it stars Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Charlie Young in the lead roles. He produced a sequel movie in 2016 with a higher cast including Chow Yun-fat and Eddie Peng.
We have often received inquiries from abroad about purchasing the rights to develop it [films] in series. But I’ve never made a deal with anyone. Therefore, since I have not made any deal, these rights are all available to me and Idku to produce it,” said Kong diverse.
Kong says streaming platforms have changed opportunities for rights holders and producers like Edko.
“We look around the world and see this way that people follow. Not only are there huge numbers of subscribers, but it is changing audience habits and viewing habits. As a company we cannot be limited to the world of theater, video, DVD and cable,” Kong said.
During the epidemic years, Edko quietly expanded its in-house production development team. But Kong has yet to ally the company with any streaming platform, either for individual titles or through an existing deal.
“I’ve been moving things around myself. It’s moving faster that way. In fact, I have several projects, and now, Edko is funding development. All of these projects are either in the script stage. Some of them might be willing to do pilots,” Kong said I hope when he reads People text us, or see our pilot, that we can win them over — that they say, ‘Wow, these are really cool pieces.’
Kong feels at pains to point out that Idku is not turning into series production with the goal of abandoning the feature film segment that has served as a unique bridge between Hollywood, Hong Kong and mainland China.
We don’t stop or stop making theatrical films. “We still have a huge list of films for Hong Kong and China, and for regional viewers,” Kong said. The company achieved a notable counter-cyclical success last year with the release of “Anita,” the extravagant biopic of cantopop singer and actress Anita Moi. His current roster includes “Table for Six,” a seasonal comedy postponed due to COVID-related movie closures that Kong has high hopes for as a summer release.
The decline was an understandable situation, given the enormous difficulties faced by the film exhibition industries in Hong Kong and mainland China, in which Idku is also located. Another major Hong Kong cinema operator filed for liquidation last year.
Hong Kong’s production sector has also suffered from a revenue shortfall and is now suffering the additional hurdle of bypassing the new censorship law, which focuses heavily on national security issues. The new law may appear to encroach on many of Hong Kong’s favorite themes of crime, corruption and the Trinity gangs, but so far few have tried to test it.
Kong says he remains optimistic about the area as a hub for entertainment production. “It’s still good. It still has the people, the production crews. They’re still very good. There are certain types of movie theaters. If you’re looking for a martial arts movie, there’s nowhere else to go than Hong Kong. If you want to do business.” An action movie, or a detective action movie, people from China and Taiwan still come to Hong Kong to make it.”
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