Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Cyber Heist,” a crime thriller directed by Hong Kong’s Wong Hing-fan (“I’m Livin’ It”) and scripted by Soi Cheang (aka Cheang Pou Soi), took the top spot at the mainland Chinese box office over the weekend. It earned a very modest $6.2 million, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. But that was enough to win on the quietest weekend since January’s Lunar New Year holiday season. “Cyber Heist” stars Aaron Kwok as a cyber security engineer who develops a state-of-the-art firewall that is capable of fending off online attacks against the global financial system. But he does not realize that in doing so he has stepped into a minefield that is even more dangerous. The picture also stars Lam Ka-tun and Simon Yam.
Paramount Puts Stephen King Publisher Simon & Schuster Back Up for Sale
14.02.2023 - 19:35 / thewrap.com
Reuters reported. It’s working with a financial advisor, and putting the value of the company between $2 billion and $2.5 billion. The process was at an early stage and a deal is not certain, the report said.That would be in line with the $2.2 billion, Paramount, then known as Viacom CBS, had agreed to sell Simon and Schuster for in November 2020 to Penguin Random House for $2.2 billion.But the plan, which would have combined the No.
1 and No. 3 U.S. book publishers, was blocked by a federal judge on Oct.
31, who found that merging the two companies would “substantially lessen competition” in the market.Penguin Random House tried to convince Simon & Schuster to fight the decision, but its parent Paramount backed off, and instead sought a $200 million termination fee in the wake of the failed deal.Simon & Schuster did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for confirmation on the new effort to unload the publishing house, which includes Stephen King, Bob Woodward, and the current best selling author, Colleen Hoover, who has the Nos. 1 and 2 slots on the New York Times Best Sellers list. King had testified against the merger with Penguinn.Paramount is reportedly aiming for a private equity buyout in order to avoid the antitrust issues that ultimately nixed the Penguin Random House deal.
Prince Harry in ’email correspondence’ with King’s office over coronation attendance
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been in “email correspondence” with the King’s office over whether they will attend the Coronation, PA reports.
Digital map launched to encourage people to share King's Coronation plans
As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to host a big lunch at Downing Street in honour of the King’s Coronation, Brits are being encouraged to share their plans for the Bank Holiday weekend so that others can get involved in the festivities.
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll’s Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Stoll his heart! Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stoll sparked a lasting romance after years of friendship.
The King and Queen Consort will make their first state visits to France and Germany in six-day trip
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are set to visit France and Germany for the first state visits of his new reign, it has been announced. The royal couple will use the occasion to "celebrate Britain’s relationship" with the two countries through an array of engagements. It will be the first time that Charles, 74, has travelled abroad in an official capacity since becoming King.
Hong Kong Box Office Sees Lofty Drama ‘A Guilty Conscience’ Reach Same Flight Level as ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ – Global Bulletin
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Already the highest grossing local film in its home market, courtroom drama, “A Guilty Conscience” has broken into Hong Kong’s all-time top ten box office ranking with a cumulative of HK$107 million ($13.7 million). Data from Hong Kong Box Office Ltd. shows the film achieving the feat after just 41 days in cinemas and coming within HK$1 million ($150,000) of overtaking “Top Gun: Maverick.” The data firm noted that the last time a Hong Kong film got this far was with fantasy-action-comedy “Kung Fu Hustle” in 2004. Since then, it has been overtaken by a fleet of Hollywood titles. Hong Hong’s current top ten is headed by “Avengers: Endgame” and includes six Marvel movies, the two “Avatar” titles and “Titanic.”
Market In Focus: Hong Kong Filmart Returns To In-Person Event As China Market Starts To Re-Open
After three years of taking place entirely online, Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart), the largest content market in Asia before the pandemic, is finally returning as a fully-fledged in-person event (March 13-16, 2023).
Market In Focus: Hong Kong Film Industry Stages Post-Pandemic Comeback
At previous in-person editions of Filmart, Hong Kong’s major film companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP), One Cool Group, Universe Films and Media Asia, always anchored the trade show floor with huge, elaborate booths promoting the latest Hong Kong films, animation and TV series.
Harry Styles Adele Rejected King Charles’ Invitation to Perform at His Coronation—‘There Would Be Backlash’
Scroll To See More Images
Stephen King Documentary ‘King On Screen’ Acquired By Dark Star Pictures – EFM
EXCLUSIVE: Dark Star Pictures has snapped up North American rights to the Stephen King documentary King on Screen, examining cinematic adaptations of the iconic author’s works, out of EFM. The film from actress-turned-director Daphné Baiwir, which bears King’s stamp of approval, will hit theaters in late summer, with a digital release to follow in the fall.
China Box Office: Hong Kong Courtroom Drama ‘A Guilty Conscience’ on Top in Mainland Cinemas
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hong Kong courtroom drama film “A Guilty Conscience” edged aside Chinese and Hollywood tentpole films to top the mainland China box office in its opening weekend. According to data from consultancy service Artisan Gateway, the film earned $8.5 million (RMB58.4 million) in its opening three days between Friday and Sunday. “The Wandering Earth 2,” which has been in cinemas for over a month, earned $7.4 million to elevate its cumulative total to $568 million. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which opened on top a week earlier, collected $7.0 million, giving it a 10-day cumulative of $31.4 million.
King Charles And Queen Camilla Will Be The Oldest Royals To Be Crowned In British History
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be crowned on May 6 coronation.
Korean Novel ‘Sad Tropic’ Being Adapted As U.S. TV Series by Seoul Street & Astro-Nomical Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation, Hae Wons’ bestselling Korean novel Sad Tropic will be adapted for TV in the U.S. by Seoul Street and Astro-Nomical Entertainment as an hour-long series.
Hong Kong’s Soi Cheang Says Murderous ‘Mad Fate’ Is his Most Inspirational Film to Date
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Berlin Film Festival is once again finding house room for Hong Kong’s most commercially successful enfant terrible, Soi Cheang, aka Cheang Pou Soi, who previously brought film noir “Limbo” to the Berlinale. This time he attends with “Mad Fate,” a film about destiny that may be Cheang’s most bloodthirsty, but which the director says is intended to be inspirational. It plays in the Berlinale Special section. Born in Macau, Cheang developed his career at the feet of Ringo Lam, Andrew Lau, Joe Ma, Wilson Yip and Johnnie To, the great stylists of the crime and action film genre across the Pearl River estuary in Hong Kong. To, who is on the Berlin jury this year, is also a producer on “Mad Fate” through his Makerville label.
Camilla Reveals the ‘Peculiar’ Way She Charles Spent Their 1st Valentine’s Day as King Queen Consort
It’s their first year as King and Queen Consort, but Charles and Camilla celebrated Valentine’s Day a little differently on February 14, 2023.
Hong Kong Free-To-Air Broadcasters Ordered To Carry Patriotic Programming; Cable TV Gives Up Pay-TV Licence
Hong Kong regulators have ordered local free-to-air TV and radio broadcasters to carry 30 minutes of national education and identity and National Security Law programming each week.
SHINee’s Onew to release new solo album in March
SHINee vocalist Onew will be returning with new solo music next month.On February 14, SportsSeoul reported that the idol would be releasing a solo album on March 6, shortly after Onew’s upcoming three-day concert at the Seoul Olympic Hall from March 3-5. SM Entertainment confirmed the report that same day, as Soompi notes.The new record will arrive just under a year after Onew released his sophomore mini-album ‘Dice’, which was led by the single of the same name.
Suga becomes first member of BTS to announce solo world tour
BTS rapper Suga has become the first member of the K-pop group to announce a solo world tour.The group went on hiatus last year and plan to reconvene in a group around 2025, with separate plans to launch their own solo projects and undertake mandatory military service duties. All able-bodied men in their home country of South Korea are legally required to serve a military term of 18-21 months.Now, Suga has announced a string of tour dates in the US and Asia for later this year.
‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ Trailer Teases Charlotte’s Rise to Power, Romance With King George
Julia MacCary editor “Bridgerton” fans, rejoice! Netflix has released a premiere date, full trailer and first-look images for the upcoming prequel series “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.” “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” follows Charlotte’s rise to power and her monumental marriage to King George. The trailer invites viewers to “the story that started it all,” showing glimpses of Charlotte and George’s romance. At a virtual event on Valentine’s Day, showrunner Shonda Rhimes was joined by cast members Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), India Amarteifio (Young Queen Charlotte), Corey Mylchreest (Young King George) and Arsema Thomas (Young Lady Danbury) to talk about the new series, its themes, actors’ inspiration and its relationship to the “Briderton” universe. The event also featured taped messages from Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury) and Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton).
Camilla will break royal tradition with crown at King Charles' coronation
Queen Consort Camilla’s crown for the Coronation has been revealed by Buckingham Palace. The 75 year old royal will wear the Crown of Queen Mary, which was removed from the Tower of London on Tuesday to be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds - in a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had the jewels in her personal collection and often wore them as brooches. The Queen Consort will wear an existing crown at the Coronation, rather than a newly commissioned piece, for the first time in recent history, Buckingham Palace said.