Demian Bichir Talks ‘Land’ and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’

Vivienne Chow Hong Kong’s local streaming platform HMVOD enjoyed a 200% surge in usage following the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it plans to invest more in original content production and increase licensing of Japanese drama and animation.Cantonese-language original content proved to be successful during the pandemic as many people turned to online entertainment while they remained at home, says Tracy Ho, HMVOD’s CEO.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered a pilot inspired by the hit Swedish novel and film “Let the Right One In,” Variety has learned.Demián Bichir is attached to star in the series, with Andrew Hinderaker onboard as showrunner and executive producer.

Showtime has given a formal pilot green light to Let the Right One In, a vampire drama starring Demián Bichir (A Better Life). The project hails from Away creator Andrew Hinderaker, who will serve as showrunner, Seith Mann (Homeland), who will direct, and Tomorrow Studios, which has been the driver behind the project in its various incarnations for more than six years.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterEros Now, the streaming service operated by Eros STX Global, competes in a crowded and fast-evolving Indian OTT market. Ali Hussein, the company’s CEO will be in conversation with Variety’s Asia editor Patrick Frater, on the first day of Hong Kong FilMart.

Vivienne Chow Television Broadcasts, Hong Kong’s leading TV group, is set to boost its variety and music programs following a recent management reshuffle. It aims to bring back veteran entertainers who have experience and profile on the mainland Chinese market in order that the station can expand its foothold in the Greater Bay Area.The new appointments come after a difficult year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jessica Kiang Oh great, another movie about dead girls and the grizzled cop/greenhorn cop duo tracking their killer. At least “Limbo,” from Soi Cheang (the “Monkey King” franchise) looks slick — often literally, with photogenic rain showers making its trashed Hong Kong slum locations as reflective as silver.

 Ng was no stranger to standing up to the government and three months prior to his death had succeeded in a case with the high court ruling that same-sex married couples can inherit the estate of their spouse without a will, which the Hong Kong government is appealing. Despite this, Li has been unable to fulfil his late husbands wishes because Hong Kong does not recognise same sex marriages, even those that were officiated in other countries.In fact, because Li’s gay marriage is not recognised

TheHong Kong International Film Festival, running April 1-12 this year as joint online/in-person event, will open with the premiere of two high-profile local features: Philip Yung's Where the Wind Blows, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Aaron Kwok, and Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, an omnibus film co-helmed by seven acclaimed Hong Kong directors including Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Yuen Woo-ping, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Hong Kong International Film Festival has unveiled a familiar lineup of titles, talks and retrospectives for its 45th edition, which will return to its normal springtime slot (April 1-4, 2021) after disruptions last year caused by the coronavirus.“For the first time in our history, we will be presenting a hybrid festival consisting of both in-theatre and virtual screenings and events.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefUA Cinemas, one of Hong Kong’s leading movie theater operators, has collapsed. The company said on Monday morning that it had applied for voluntary liquidation.“UA Cinemas has always been committed to providing the highest quality of cinematic entertainment to all audiences in Hong Kong since it was founded in 1985 by Mr.

Rebecca Davis editorChina on Friday said it would revamp Hong Kong’s electoral system to tighten its grip on the city, a strong move against the region’s democratic governance and freedoms that has incited backlash from critics abroad.Beijing’s rubberstamp parliament, known as the National People’s Congress (NPC), convened for the first day of its annual week-long meetings on Friday.

Ng Man-tat, the Hong Kong actor best known for his comic collaborations with Stephen Chow, has died. He was 70.

Vivienne Chow Back in the heyday of Hong Kong movies, the city’s film stars and those groomed by the Hong Kong industry were among the biggest stars in Asia.Now, facing the twin pressures of coronavirus’ impact on productions and performances and, for some, a cold shoulder from mainland Chinese audiences, many Hong Kong stars are becoming digital creators and entrepreneurs.Not only have film and TV opportunities dried up, well-paid promotional gigs, such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies for shop

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”Evan Ross appears in Lee Daniels’ “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” as a federal agent.

Capcom seem to have removed the flag of Hong Kong in favour of the People’s Republic of China in edits to Street Fighter II.The Nintendo Switch release of Arcade Stadium includes Street Fighter II among other classic games. Character Fei Long was originally accompanied by the flag of his nationality which was that of Hong Kong S.A.R.

Vivienne Chow Hong Kong’s film industry moved ahead on several fronts over the weekend after coronavirus-mandated lockdowns were reduced. But the return to business is likely to be uneven.Cinemas reopened on Thursday, after being ordered shut since Dec.

Edgar Wright is in negotiations to direct a new adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Running Man” for Paramount Pictures, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.King first published the futuristic novel under his pseudonym Richard Bachman in 1982.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Hong Kong government has replaced the head of broadcasting at publicly-owned Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). It also published a report that lambasted the operator for poor internal controls and lack of editorial accountability.The broadcaster, which is technically a government department, has been criticized by the city’s pro-Beijing camp for much of the past two years.

Demi Lovato is continuing to open up about her near-fatal 2018 overdose. The singer, 28, recently spoke to People magazine, revealing that she "wouldn't change a thing" about how the events transpired following the overdose.  "Everything had to happen in order for me to learn the lessons that I learned," the multihyphenate told the outlet at a Television Critics Association panel.