Headlines from China: Italian Director Cristiano Bortone to Adapt Yan Geling’s ‘The Secret Talker’ 

Yan Geling

Italian Director Cristiano Bortone to Adapt Yan Geling’s ‘The Secret Talker’ 

It’s announced at the 71st Cannes Film Festival that Italian director Cristiano Bortone will direct Chinese writer Yan Geling’s novel The Secret Talker. Set in 2003 during the Iraq War, the film follows a Chinese woman, married to an American university professor, who starts receiving mysterious emails. Bortone will start shooting the film in 2019 with a Chinese actress playing the female lead and an American actor playing the male lead. Yan Geling is a celebrated writer and screenwriter whose novels have been adapted into films by many renowned filmmakers including Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang. Cristiano Bortone directed the first official Italian Chinese co-production film Coffee, which was released in China in 2017. Read more on Mtime

Chinese Animated Film ‘Spycies’ Selected by “Annecy Goes to Cannes”

“Annecy Goes to Cannes,” a program presented by Annecy International Animated Film Festival, is once again bringing five animated films to the Cannes Film Market. This year, the program selected a Chinese film for the first time. Titled Spycies, this selected Chinese film follows two secret agents, Vladimir and Hector, who are trying to recover a top secret material stolen by unknown intruders. Spycies is a Chinese French co-production directed by filmmakers from both countries. It has been set to release in China in December. Read more on Hongmo

Why Indian Film ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ Is Flopping in China

Released in China on May 4, Indian Film Baahubali 2: The Conclusion has only raked in 71.6 million yuan ($11.22 million) after 12 days. Comparing with other Indian releases, such as Dangal, Secret Superstar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Hindi Medium, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion in making much less in China. However, the film is highly popular outside China. Last year, it was released simultaneously in India and North America, and went on to make $10.4 million in North America within one week. So why can’t Baahubali 2 win over Chinese audience? According to WeChat account yiyuguancha’s analysis, cultural barrier is the main reason. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion was adapted from Indian mythology, which most Chinese audiences know very little about. Read more on yiyuguancha

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‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Becomes This Year’s Highest-Grossing Foreign Film in China

According to data provided by Mtime Pro, Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War has earned 1.396 billion yuan ($219.16 million) in China as of May 14, surpassing Ready Player One‘s China box office, which is 1.394 billion yuan ($218.85 million), and becoming this year’s highest-grossing foreign film in China. Avengers: Infinity War is expected to surpass Avengers: Age of Ultron soon and become the highest-grossing superhero movie in China. Read more on Mtime