The fourth installment of China's wildly successful "Detective Chinatown" action-comedy series has secured simultaneous theatrical releases across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. This highly anticipated masterpiece is set to hit the global silver screens on January 29th, coinciding with its domestic debut in China on the inaugural day of the lucrative Lunar New Year holiday.
From 2015 to 2021, the first three films in the franchise, all directed by Chen Sicheng, amassed over $1.3 billion at the box office, with the lion's share coming from the domestic Chinese market. The latest instalment, titled "Detective Chinatown 1900," is a collaborative effort between Chen and co-director Dai Mo. Returning stars Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran, joined by franchise newcomer Chow Yun Fat, take audiences on a thrilling prequel journey back to turn-of-the-century San Francisco.
Hollywood actor John Cusack, alongside Yue Yunpeng ("Full River Red"), Steven Zhang ("Endless Journey"), and Bai Ke ("Johnny Keep Walking!"), round out the stellar supporting cast. The film's gripping narrative revolves around the mysterious murder of a white woman in San Francisco's Chinatown, which results in a Chinese man being falsely accused. Outraged city residents demand the shutdown of Chinatown. Qin Fu (played by Liu) and Ah Gui (played by Wang), a Chinese medicine practitioner and a regular Joe, respectively, find themselves ensnared in the case, racing against time to uncover the truth in a high-stakes game of wits and bravery.
Produced by Wanda Film and Chen's As One Production, "Detective Chinatown 1900" mirrors the quality of its predecessors. To create authentic vintage Chinatown sets, the production team constructed a sprawling 30-acre backlot in Shandong Province, China.
CMC Pictures will distribute the film in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, while Trinity CineAsia will handle releases in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, Germany, and France. Singapore and Malaysia's MM2 Entertainment have also planned simultaneous releases. Following its international premiere, the film will hit Hong Kong and Macau on February 13th via Intercontinental Film, and Cambodia on February 26th. Release dates for Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines are still pending confirmation from MM2 Entertainment.
Blossoms Entertainment, based in Beijing, is overseeing international sales and managing the film's global distribution, ensuring that audiences worldwide will be treated to this captivating cinematic experience.
