CJ ENM Hong Kong has acquired the Pang Brothers’ horror feature The Mage for Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
It will release the film in Malaysia and Taiwan on October 8, Singapore on October 15, and Thailand on October 29, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam in November.
The $3m Cantonese-language film is produced by 852 Films and stars the Hong Kong-based company’s founder Josie Ho, who plays a woman with the ability to guide the souls of those who have died unexpectedly towards reincarnation. When she and a police officer are drawn to a series of suspicious deaths linked to a mysterious ritual, they risk becoming the next victims.
Following its world premiere at South Korea’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifan) in July, the film will next open the Midnight section of the upcoming Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF, September 13-27) and will screen at Sitges in October
Ho, along with producer Conroy Chan, actor Iman Taheri and co-director Danny Pang, will travel to Bangkok for the BKKIFF screening on September 14.
The deal marks CJ ENM’s first collaboration with 852 Films, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
“This acquisition aligns with our continued commitment to bringing compelling Asian stories to audiences across the region and beyond,” said Michael Jung, Hong Kong-based managing director of CJ ENM Hong Kong. “The Mage is a strong addition to our growing slate of local-language projects from across Asia.”
“We have always believed that The Mage has the potential to travel,” said producer Chan. “The supernatural genre has a strong connection with audiences across Asia, while every market has its own culture and sensibilities,” says producer Chan.
A release in Hong Kong is scheduled for October 8 through Edko Films.
The Mage marks the first feature directed by the Pang Brothers since 2013’s Inferno 3D. The directing duo - twin brothers Oxide and Danny Pang - are known for horror film franchise The Eye and the US remake of their own Bangkok Dangerous.
The same directing and producing team alongside the main cast have reunited for The Mage 2, which is in post-production.
CJ ENM Hong Kong is the regional headquarters of South Korea’s CJ ENM and operates from Hong Kong and Singapore. It also serves as a regional producer and distributor of Asian-language scripted content and branded entertainment.
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