HBO Asia Original martial arts movies to premiere in Mandarin with English and local language subtitles on HBO

HBO Asia - Master of The Shadowless Kick Wong Kei-ying 2HBO Asia - Master of The Drunken Fist Beggar So 2

First Time Chinese Language Films Premiere On HBO

SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 13, 2016 – The action-packed HBO Asia Original anthology of martial arts TV movies co-produced with China Movie Channel (CMC) will premiere on HBO in Mandarin, the original language it was filmed in. Subtitled in both English and local language*, Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So” and “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying” will premiere at 9pm on HBO on December 25 and December 26 respectively. Both movies will also be available in original language on HBO GO and HBO ON DEMAND. This is the first time Mandarin films are airing on HBO.

Set in ancient China at the end of the Qing dynasty, both movies were executive produced by Hong Kong action director, Corey Yuen (The Transporter, X-Men) and directed by Guo Jian-yong (国建勇) who specialises in martial arts movies and has choreographed the action sequences for Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), The Twins Effect II (2004), Red Cliff (2007) and Transporter I, II and III (2001; 2005; 2008). The two movies were written by a team of writers from China, while award-winning Singaporean screenwriter, Koh Teng Liang, contributed to the screenplay of “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying”.

Cao Jun (曹骏) [Lotus Lantern (宝莲灯); Magic Mobile Phone (魔幻手机)] stars as Beggar So Chan (苏乞儿) in “Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So”, while Sun Hao-ran (孙浩然) [God of War, Zhao Yun (武神赵子龙)] stars in the titular role of Wong Kei-ying (黄麒英) in “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying”.

About Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So

Born to a wealthy merchant in Canton, So Chan is pampered, but smart and ambitious; and about to become the Emperor’s top Martial Arts Champion. But when he finds himself dragged into a conspiracy between two political powers in the imperial court, he loses everything – including his family and almost his life. Saved by the Beggars’ Sect, So Chan is determined to improve his martial arts and defeat the person who framed him.

With the help of the Sect’s chief and his daughter, and Chinese liquor, So Chan grasps the full essence of the long lost martial art – the Drunken Fist. From a lost gilded youth to a proud and driven Beggar So, he will get his revenge and find the love of his life.

 

About “Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying

A quiet and honest physician, Wong Kei-ying, spends his life upholding medical ethics and saving lives. While he stays away from conflicts, politics and power, he soon finds himself tricked into assisting Wei, the ruthless and treacherous new governor of Canton, who pretends to fight against the local gang that runs the opium business as part of a ploy to take over the business himself.

When Wong finds out, his mentor has already been captured and forced by Wei to become an opium addict. Desperate to save his mentor, Wong pretends to help Wei while finding the antidote to rid the addiction.

Before Wong could find a cure, his mentor passes away, leaving him with the illustrations of the legendary martial art – Shadowless Kick. Wong will master the skill and use it in the final attempt to take down Wei.

These two anthology TV movies are one of four HBO Asia Original productions this year. The others include HBO Asia’s first returnable series HALFWORLDS Season 2 and HBO Asia’s first Taiwanese co-production, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC.

*In selected territories.

About HBO ASIA

Singapore-based HBO Asia brings the best of Hollywood to Asia first through its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood and independent studios, including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO and HBO Asia Original programmes produced exclusively for HBO viewers. Wholly owned by HBO (a Time Warner company), HBO Asia reaches 23 territories across Asia with six 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels: HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax, as well as Red by HBO, internet streaming platform, HBO GO, subscription video on demand service, HBO On Demand, and in China, 鼎级剧场 (ding ji ju chang). HBO Asia is also the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst and the DreamWorks channel in the region. Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

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Media contract:

Karen Lai | Communications Director | HBO Asia 

DID +65 6381 1796 | Mobile +65 9111 2655 | Fax +65 6287 2210 | www.hboasia.com

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