Sino Silver Screen: 'Spirited Away' Gets China Release; Media Regulator to Ban Film and TV Remakes?

This post comes courtesy of our content partners at China Film Insider.

Chinese Media Regulator to Ban Film and TV Remakes? 

This week, a screenshot of a list of new censorship rules circulated on the internet, including detailed guidelines regarding TV and film content as well as a ban on remakes. While some industry professionals question the reliability of the source, many are afraid that the document is in fact real. After speaking with several industry experts, WeChat media account Entertainment Capital concludes that the screenshot was likely released by someone who attended a meeting organized by the media regulator to discuss possible changes to the current censorship policies. While the new rules have not been finalized, it’s very possible that a ban on making remakes is being considered.

Read more on Ent Group.


‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ Gets One-month Theatrical Extension in China

Legendary Pictures' Pokémon Detective Pikachu has been granted a one-month theatrical extension in China. The film opened in Chinese theaters on May 10 and made RMB 622 million (USD 90 million) after one month in screens. In North America, the film has raked in USD 133 million so far. The success of Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a rare case as in the past most films adapted from video games have flopped in China. According to sources familiar with the matter, a sequel to Pokémon Detective Pikachu is already in development.

Read more on Mtime.
 

Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal to Attend China Premiere of ‘Spider-man: Far From Home’

After scoring a Jun 28 China release, Spider-man: Far From Home now has another exciting news for fans in China. According to sources familiar with the matter, the film’s director Jon Watts and lead actors Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal will come to China to promote the film. Since the film’s cast and crew members started a global promotional tour, fans have been closely following where they go. After Mexico and Bali (Indonesia), China is confirmed to be the third stop of the promotional tour. This is the third time Tom Holland comes to China to promote a film, whereas it's the first for Jake Gyllenhaal.

Read more on Mtime.


Top Chinese Actors to Dub Japanese Classic ‘Spirited Away’

Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 classic Spirited Away has been set to release in China on Jun 21. Renowned Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang and actress Wang Lin have been confirmed to dub two important characters in the film, and according to an industry insider, A-list actors Zhou Dongyu and Jing Boran are to dub the film's protagonists, although an official announcement has yet to be released. Additionally, Chinese designer Zao Dao designed a number of Chinese-specific posters for the release of the film (one of which is pictured above). This is the first time Spirited Away has had a theatrical release in China, and the second Hayao Miyazaki film to be released here. In December last year, the filmmaker’s 1988 classic My Neighbor Totoro was brought to China for a wide release and earned RMB 173 million (USD 25 million) at the box office.

Read more on Mtime.


Can Huayi Brothers Pay Off Its Massive Debt This Year?

The summer moviegoing season has begun and box office prospects are looking good for otherwise embattled Chinese studio Huayi Brothers. The studio will release two highly anticipated films this summer, including war epic The Eight Hundred by Guan Hu and comedy film The Last Wish by Tian Yusheng, who also directed the box office hit The Ex-file: The Return of The Exes. However, the company recently received an inquiry from Shenzhen Stock Exchange regarding the company’s various financial issues. According to an estimation by WeChat media account D-entertainment, Huayi's debt currently stands at around RMB 4.6 billion (USD 666 million), meaning that 2019 will remain challenging no matter the successes that come.

Read more on TMT Post.

Like film? Don't forget to catch the end of CFA's oeuvre-spanning retrospective of iconic German director Wim Wenders.

Images: Reddit, Hypebeast, YouTube