Chinese xianxia epic 'Jade Dynasty' goes to big screen
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 11, 2019
Xiao, whose real name is Zhang Jian, is the earliest pioneer in online literature while helping enhance the genre of xianxia, a martial arts hero genre mixed with fantasy elements including magic, demons, ghosts and immortals. He has inspired generations of young writers and has a loyal fan base.
The film "Jade Dynasty" will be the first installment of an ambitious film franchise developed by New Classics Media. The film will star popular young actors and actresses - Xiao Zhan, Li Qin, Meng Meiqi and Tang Yixin.
Xiao Zhan is a Chinese actor and singer and a member of the male idol group X NINE. He received recognition for his roles in the dramas "Oh! My Emperor" (2018) and "The Untamed" (2019) and has close to 18 million fans on Sina Weibo.
Li Qin is known for her roles in "The Dream of Red Mansions" (2010), "White Deer Plain" (2017) and "Princess Agents" (2017), and has 21.2 million followers on Sina Weibo.
Meng Meiqi is a popular singer, teen idol and a member of the girl group Rocket Girls 101 after finishing first in the girl group survival music show Produce 101 in 2018. She has 23.35 million fans on Sina Weibo.
Tang Yixin rose to fame when she starred in "Empresses in the Palace" (2011) and "The Advisors Alliance" (2017) and in the TV series "Noble Aspirations" (2016), an early adaptation of "Zhu Xian." She will reprise the same role in "Jade Dynasty." She has 15.26 million fans on Sina Weibo.
The statistics of their followers on the social network platform are staggering, which is why the film now leads box office sales for the Mid-Autumn Day film season, pre-selling more than 20 million yuan ($2.81 million) in tickets by Wednesday, two days before its debut on Sept. 13.
"Jade Dynasty" will likely become a crucial film to evaluate if the stardom on social networks of the new generation of young idols can be translated into box office revenue.
But these actors are not just pretty faces, said director Ching. "They are awesome! Their passions for the roles and their work ethic impressed me. I appreciate their trust in me when I asked them to do a lot of hard and risky stunts - in the real environment; no green screen."
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