Headlines from China: Is This Variety Show Cancelled Because of Trade War?

Is This Show Cancelled Because of Trade War?

The May 19 release of drama series Over The Sea I Come to You has just been cancelled for unspecified reasons. Many are speculating that the cancellation is caused by the recent escalation of the US-China trade war. The show follows a group of Chinese students and their parents as they go to the U.S. to pursue overseas education. Thanks to a strong cast and an interesting theme,  the show is highly anticipated and has been booked by major TV channels and video platforms, including Dragon TV, Zhengjiang TV, iQiyi, Tencent Video and Youku. Prior to the cancellation of Over The Sea I Come to You, China’s Central Television was the first in the Chinese entertainment sector to respond to the trade war situation by broadcasting films about anti-US movement during the Korean War. Read more on Ent Group

Is Early Release in China Becoming A New Trend for Hollywood Movies? 

This year, as the productions of local films slow down, a larger number of Hollywood movies get the chance to meet the Chinese audiences in theater. Among the recent Hollywood releases, a few are released in China in advance of their North American releases and achieved box office success. The best known example is Aquaman, which was released in China on December 7, 2018, two weeks before its North American opening. The film ended up making $1.1 billion worldwide including $298 million in China. Following the success of Aquaman, Captain Marvel and Shazam! were released day and date in China with the U.S. while Avengers: Endgame was released in China two days earlier than in North America. Up next, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Dark Phoenix will also be released in China early. Read more on Ent Group

A Gundam Movie To Hit Chinese Theaters For The First Time

Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, a 2018 Japanese animated Mecha science fiction film based on the 11th Gundam Unicorn novel, is set to be imported into China for theatrical release, according to sources familiar with the matter. This is the first time a Gundam film hits the big screen in China since the franchise was launched 40 years ago. In 1979, a TV series titled Mobile Suit Gundam was broadcasted in Japan. Over the past 40 years, the Gundam series has been developed into a franchise that includes television series, OVAs, films, manga, novels and video games, as well as a whole industry of model robots known as Gunpla. Read more on Mtime