Among the most refreshing new projects being disclosed at this year's Cannes Film Festival is Jung Ku - The Man from 18th Hell with The Warlords director Peter Chan at the helm. Produced by the Cinema Popular, the same company behind Bodyguards and Assassins, its a fantasy adventure about a household mythological ghost-slayer and the media are touting it as "China's first superhero movie."
"Jung Ku", with a budget of over US$15 million, is set in a time when humans lived alongside gods and demons. The title character is inspired by Zhong Kui, a well-known figure in Chinese mythology, who slays ghosts and demons to protect mankind.
It seems the China film board has ease up its censorship policy on supernatural themes. Also in development from Cinema Popular is a remake to The Flying Guillotines with Dante Lam as the director and Peter Chan as the producer. The other two project line-up for production is Queen's Road Ripper, a serial killer thriller and The God of Wealth, a comedy drama set against the backdrop of the global financial crisis. Jung Ku is expected for completion by next year.
