Bona Film Group, a leading private film company in China, announced plans for several high-profile film projects during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).

Bona Film Group, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, has released an impressive list of future projects. These include investing in and producing Dante Lam's military blockbuster "Operation Leviathan," Stanley Tong's action-packed romantic fantasy film "A Legend" starring Jackie Chan, Hu Mei's highly anticipated adaptation "The Dream of the Red Chamber," as well as Gao Peng's crime drama "A Long Shot." Additionally, the company will be coordinating the Chinese marketing for "Paddington in Peru."

Bona Film Group is renowned for producing "The Battle at Lake Changjin," China's highest-grossing film of all time.

Cast and crew of "Operation Leviathan" pose for a photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

"Operation Leviathan" is a sequel to Lam's 2018 military action movie "Operation Red Sea," which grossed 3.65 billion yuan. Set in the near future, this sequel tells a story about a special operation of the Chinese navy in the deep sea, with advanced military equipment being showcased. 

Yu Dong, chairman of Bona Film Group, highlighted that it is the first time a Chinese film has focused on submarine action, adding that this production is bigger than its predecessor. While not naming a specific amount, Yu previously disclosed in April that this film's budget is the largest for a Chinese film in 2024, even comparing the film's expenses to that of Hollywood productions. "Operation Leviathan" is currently in post-production and is slated to be released next year.

"Director Lam went all out and even risked his life to get shots done for the film," Yu exclaimed. "I know this production will exceed the budget, and all I can do is help secure more investment for them, to ensure everything is done perfectly. I hope all our efforts will pay off and the audience will get to see an incredible film from Lam, a superb military action movie paying tribute to China's navy."

Cast and crew of "A Legend" pose for a photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

"A Legend," the sister film to the 2005 hit "The Myth," will open in cinemas across China on July 12. In this new film, Jackie Chan plays the role of an archaeologist who discovers a powerful jade artifact that sends him and his assistant, played by Lay Zhang, back to a tumultuous period in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 24). 

A highlight of the film is the use of AI technology to recreate a 27-year-old version of Chan as an ancient Chinese general. Besides using innovative technology, the film also showcases stunning scenes of ancient battlefields and massive horse-riding armies, which involved a real cavalry of 1,300 men and ten thousand horses. These epic scenes were all shot on location in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region rather than using CGI. 

"The Dream of the Red Chamber," based on the classic novel by Cao Xueqin, took ten years to prepare and officially started production in 2017. In preparation of its upcoming nationwide release on July 26, Bona Film Group has held over 70 advanced screenings across 50 Chinese cities to generate buzz and collect feedback. Yu suggested the film provides a concise summary of the novel's complex plot and characters, appealing to younger audiences who may lack the time or interest to read the original Chinese epic.

Cast and crew of "The Dream of the Red Chamber" pose for a photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

In addition to these forthcoming film projects, Yu also announced the production of several TV series, such as "Battle of Shangganling" by Andrew Lau and "Lin Zexu" by Yin Li. He also revealed that the company would venture into using AI technology to create a sci-fi mini-drama series about an apocalypse at the Sanxingdui archaeological site in Sichuan province.

Over the past 25 years, Bona Film Group has produced and distributed many high-grossing and patriotic blockbusters, including "The Battle at Lake Changjin," "Operation Red Sea," "The Captain," "Chinese Doctors" and "The Taking of Tiger Mountain." The film group has witnessed and participated in the rapid market-oriented reforms and industrialization of Chinese cinema.

Collaborating directors and actors pose for a group photo at a press event held by Bona Film Group to mark its 25th anniversary during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

Despite Bona Film Group's past glories and challenges, Yu Dong stated that the 25-year-old company will "continue to strive for growth as always, keep up with trends, face challenges fearlessly and evolve towards the new." Yu said the group will always be committed to innovation and meeting audience expectations with higher quality film productions.

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