Open Road Films Relaunches With Liam Neeson’s Thriller ‘Honest Thief’

Lay Zhang is back with even more beats!

Rebecca Davis editorHong Kong “Mulan” star Donnie Yen this week reiterated his political loyalty to mainland China as he teased work on the upcoming theatrical adaptation of popular video game “Sleeping Dogs” and announced “Golden Empire,” a new China-backed crime thriller.His hometown is currently roiling under the impact of a controversial new national security law imposed by Beijing that strips Hong Kong of many of its former freedoms, which came into effect July 1 — the anniversary of

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Chinese megastar Donnie Yen is set to star in and produce crime thriller Golden Empire, in which he will play a notorious drug kingpin who hits the top of the most wanted list for both the U.S. and Mexican governments.Yen will also produce the movie alongside Peter Luo, CEO at Starlight Media, which is lead financing alongside SA Inc.

he previously celebrated his 80th at Glastonbury, having the crowd sing to him before Patti Smith debuted a special poem she’d written in his honour. He’s also, it should be noted, a fan of the Beastie Boys.The Dalai Lama isn’t short on musical admirers, either — well, ones that don’t mind forfeiting the chance to ever play in China — such as Lady Gaga, whom he reportedly spoke about yoga with when they met in 2016.

Boz Scaggs in North America. The deal covers Scaggs' catalog from 1968 to the present and all his releases going forward.Scaggs has been releasing music for more than 50 years, with highlights including tracks such as “Lido Shuffle,” “It’s Over,” “What Can I Say” and “Lowdown,” the latter of which won a Grammy for Best R&B song in 1977.

, is following in their footsteps.The 25-year-old Richardson stars in his first leading role in , a crime drama dropping Wednesday on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video, and only ET has the exclusive sneak peek at the new eight-episode streaming series.is set in a New York City besieged by financial collapse and a surging crime wave, while an underworld economy of speakeasies -- illegal, debaucherous after-hours clubs linked by a web of taxicabs — is thriving.

Considering how COVID-19 has shaken Italy’s tourism industry, the upcoming film “Made in Italy” might be the solution. Following a father and son, as they repair an old house in Tuscany, this film looks to be full of beautiful shots of the Italian countryside.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorIt’s official — at least for the time being: Disney said Friday it is moving Niki Caro’s Mulan release date from July 25 to August 21, the weekend after Tenet‘s five-day opening from August 12-16.We were hearing noise about this earlier this week, as we told you, with COVID-19 cases surging nationwide and theaters reopening in New York, Los Angeles and China up in the air.

Zhang Yimou is one of the most acclaimed Chinese filmmakers working today.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorA pair of China-focused panels at the Cannes Virtual Market this morning provided some insight into what’s happening in the Middle Kingdom as Beijing deals with a recent reemergence of coronavirus cases and movie theaters remain shuttered. The news wasn’t terribly positive.Jerry Ye, Chairman of Huaying Tianxia (Tianjin) Film Development said there is “no timetable for reopening for cinemas just yet.

Rebecca Davis editorChina’s Joy Pictures is selling 10 Chinese titles at the Cannes market this year, including two of its own animated features scheduled for summer 2022. The shingle, which began as a marketer and distributor best-known in its early days for bringing “La La Land” to China, has recently shifted its focus to the production and sale of animation.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Mark Amin’s U.S. based Sobini Films (Good Kill), Japanese producer Motoko Kimura (L.D.K), and Lifeng Wang’s (Skiptrace) Yintai Investment are teaming up to launch the ACJ Film Fund.ACJ is a joint venture to develop and finance wide-release theatrical films that will appeal to the American, Chinese, and Japanese markets.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards, Features EditorNetflix and Pearl Studio unveiled the first trailer for their animated film “Over the Moon” on Tuesday following a virtual discussion with some of the cast and crew about the pic last week.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFilms Boutique has acquired international rights to Chinese filmmaker Wei Shujun’s “Striding Into the Wind,” which is part of Cannes’ 2020 Official Selection.

Open Road, the U.S. distributor that was part of Donald Tang's ambitious plans to build a global mini-studio, before collapsing in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is back in the theatrical distribution business.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: In a big shot in the arm for the independent distribution game as Virtual Cannes gets underway, Open Road Films is back up and running. Funding is in place from New York-based private equity firm Raven Capital Management’s principal James Mascielli with key support from Matt Sidari.

Rebecca Davis editor“Moses on the Plain,” a film executive produced by art house director Diao Yinan, is among the first notable Chinese titles to have completed shooting since the country’s coronavirus outbreak. It stars A-listers Zhou Dongyu, who has enjoyed a further rise on the back of last year’s breakout teen drama “Better Days,” and Liu Haoran, the young star of the “Detective Chinatown” franchise.