Warriors of Future

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Netflix Unveils Chinese-Language Slate Topped by ‘Agent From Above,’ ‘Warriors of Future’
The streamer is blocked by Beijing regulators from accessing the massive mainland Chinese entertainment market, but the company produces content for Taiwan, Hong Kong and the large global diaspora audience.

BY PATRICK BRZESKI

NOVEMBER 2, 2022 11:15PM
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'Warriors of Future' COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Netflix unveiled a small slate of Chinese-language content Thursday, led by the Taiwanese fantasy series Agent From Above and Hong Kong sci-fi blockbuster Warriors of Future.

“We’re committed to investing in and creating high-quality Chinese-language shows that we know will appeal to more audiences in Taiwan and around the world,” said Netflix’s manager of Chinese-language content Jerry Zhang.

Produced by Singapore’s mm2 Entertainment and Taiwan’s Good Films Production, Agent From Above is rooted in a universe of “gods, monsters, humans and ghosts” inspired by traditional Taiwanese beliefs. The series follows a former drug addict who is recruited to do the bidding of legendary Chinese god San Tai Zi as redemption for his sins. Directed by Donnie Lai and produced by Good Films’ Rita Chuang, the show stars Taiwan’s Kai Ko, Wang Po-Chieh, Hsueh Shih-ling, Buffy Chen and Johnny Yang.

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‘Agent From Above’ COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Netflix is blocked by Beijing regulators from accessing the massive mainland Chinese entertainment market, but the company produces a targeted amount of Chinese-language shows out of Taiwan and Hong Kong for local subscribers and the large diaspora audience across Southeast Asia and around the world.

Warriors of Future was Hong Kong’s highest-grossing film of the summer, which Netflix has since acquired. An action sci-fi drama directed by Ng Yuen-fai and starring local veterans Louis Koo, Lau Ching Wan and Carina Lau, the film is set in the year 2055 and involves humans facing off against alien invaders. It will stream worldwide on Netflix beginning Dec. 2.

The streamer’s slate also notably includes the pioneering Taiwanese LGBTQ+ romance series The Nipple Talk, which follows three friends of different genders and different sexual orientations as they strive to balance love and lust in their quest for a relationship. Produced by Sequoia Entertainment, the series is directed by Lincoln Lai and stars Lin Szu-yu, Bryan Chang, Lu Xia and Kaiser Chuang.

“We’re thrilled to work with some of the best production companies in the region, which not only allows us to showcase top Chinese creative talent to a global audience, but also allows our members to be the first in the world to stream a mega box office success like Warriors of Future,” added Janslle Ong, a Netflix manager of content.

The remaining two titles on Netflix’s upcoming Chinese-language content roster are the previously announced thriller mysteries Copycat Killer and The Victims’ Game, both produced by Greener Grass Production.

Copycat Killer is an adaptation of a crime novel by genre fiction writer Miyuki Miyabe, which will start streaming in the first quarter of 2023. The Victims’ Game is the first Chinese-language production to be renewed by Netflix. It will begin filming next year with the original cast returning.

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Agent From Above
Warriors of Future

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See All The Winners At The 2023 Hong Kong Film Awards
The best of the industry
by KAITLYN LAI

16 APR 2023


Best Film

WINNER: To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self

The Sparring Partner

Warriors of the Future

Detective VS. Sleuths

The Narrow Road

Best Director

WINNER: Wai Ka Fai, Detective VS. Sleuths

Ho Cheuk Tin, The Sparring Partner

Lam Sum, The Narrow Road

Mabel Cheung, William Kwok, To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self

Sunny Chan, Table For Six

Best Screenplay

WINNER: Wai Ka Fai, Ryker Chan, Mak Tin Shu, Detective VS. Sleuths

Frankie Tam Kwong Yuen, Oliver Yip, Thomas Leung, The Sparring Partner

Lau Kok Rui, The Sunny Side Of The Street

Fean Chung Chu Fung, The Narrow Road

Sunny Chan, Table For Six

Best Actor

WINNER: Sean Lau, Detective VS. Sleuths

Mak Pui Tung, The Sparring Partner

Yeung Wai Lun, The Sparring Partner

Anthony Wong, The Sunny Side Of The Street

Louis Cheung Kai Chung, The Narrow Road

Best Actress

WINNER: Sammi Cheng, Lost Love

Louisa So, The Sparring Partner

Teresa Mo, Mama’s Affair

Angela Yuen, The Narrow Road

Sylvia Chang, A Light Never Goes Out

Best Supporting Actor

WINNER: Michael Hui, Where the Wind Blows

Jan Lamb, The Sparring Partner

Law Wing Cheong, Mama’s Affair

Louis Cheung Kai Chung, Table For Six

Peter Chan Charm Man, Table For Six

Best Supporting Actress

WINNER: Ivana Wong, Table For Six

Harriet Yeung, The Sparring Partner

Patra Au, The Narrow Road

Lin Min Chen, Table For Six

Jennifer Yu, Far Far Away

Best New Performer

WINNER: Sahal Zaman, The Sunny Side Of The Street

Jer Lau, Mama’s Affair

Edan Lui, Hong Kong Family

Henick Chou, A Light Never Goes Out

Edan Lui, Chilli Laugh Story

Best Cinematography

WINNER: Cheng Siu Keung, Detective VS. Sleuths

Leung Yau Cheong, The Sparring Partner

Ng King Ming, Warriors Of Future

Chin Ting Chang, Meng Qing, Tsui Siu King, Where The Wind Blows

Meteor Cheung Yu Hon, The Narrow Road

Best Film Editing

WINNER: J.Him Lee, Zhang Zhao, Jojo Shek, The Sparring Partner

Wong Hoi, Kenny Luk, Warriors Of Future

Bill Lui, Andrew Wong, Where The Wind Blows

Jean Tsoi, Detective VS. Sleuths

Irving Cheung, Leung Tsz Yin, Table For Six

Best Costume And Makeup Design

WINNER: Dora Ng, Where The Wind Blows

Cheung Siu Hong, Warriors Of Future

Man Lim Chung, Kwok In Wai Vann, Lost Love

Stanley Cheung, Pat Tang, Detective VS. Sleuths

Bonnie Ho, The Narrow Road

Best Art Direction

WINNER: Bill Lui, Andrew Wong, Where The Wind Blows

Ida Mak, The Sparring Partner

Wong Hoi, Kenny Luk, Warriors Of Future

Jean Tsoi, Detective VS. Sleuths

Irving Cheung, Leung Tsz Yin, Table For Six

Best Action Choreography

WINNER: Jack Wong Wai Leung, Warriors Of Future

Sammo Hung, Jimmy Hung, Yuen Wo Ping, Septet: The Story Of Hong Kong

Lin Feng, Stephen Tung Wai, The Battle At Lake Changjin II

Wong Chi Man, Where The Wind Blows

Wong Wai Leung, Detective VS. Sleuths

Best Original Film Score

WINNER: Wong Hin Yan, The Narrow Road

Sara Fung Chi Han, The Sparring Partner

Chan Kwong Wing, Warriors Of Future

Ding Ke, Sara Fung Chi Han, Where The Wind Blows

Alan Wong Ngai Lun, Janet Yung Wai Yung, Table For Six

Best Original Film Song

WINNER: “Live A Life”, Lost Love
Composer: Hans Wing; Lyricist: Lin Ruo Ning; Vocal Artist: Sammi Cheng

“Twisted Fate”, The Sparring Partner
Composer: Sara Fung Chi Han, Kenny Wong; Lyricist： Morgan Cheung; Vocal Artist： Hung Ka Ho

“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”, Warriors Of Future
Composer: Chan Kwong Wing; Lyricist: Oscar; Vocal Artist: Ansonbean, Winka@Collar

“Forever”, Mama’s Affair
Composer: Alan Wong Ngai Lun, Janet Yung Wai Ying; Lyricist: Chan Wing Him; Vocal Artist: Keung To

“狠愛狠愛你”, Table for Six
Composer & Vocal Artist: Ivana Wong; Lyricist: Sunny Chan

Best Sound Design

WINNER: Nopawat Likitwong, Stan Yau Kwok Leung, Sarunyu Nurnsai, Dhanarat Dhitirojana, Warriors Of Future

Tu Duu Cnih, Chiang Yi Chen, The Sparring Partner

Steve Burgess, Wang Danrong, Yin Jie, The Battle At Lake Changjin II

Tuu Duu Cnih, Wu Shu Yao, Where The Wind Blows

Thomas Cheng, Vincent Tam, Chill Yang, Detective VS. Sleuths

Best Visual Effects

WINNER: Chas Chau Chi Shing, Leung Wai Kit, Kwok Tai, Law May, Warriors Of Future

Shigeharu Tomotoshi, The Sparring Partner

Tsui Hark, Dennis Yeung, Wang Lei, The Battle At Lake Changjin II

Shigeharu Tomotoshi, Where The Wind Blows

Don Ma, Chan Wah, Specta Wong, Jacky Chung, Detective VS. Sleuths

Best New Director

WINNER: Ho Cheuk Tin, The Sparring Partner

Lau Kok Rui, The Sunny Side Of the Street

Ng Yuen Fai, Warriors Of Future

Lam Sum, The Narrow Road

Sunny Chan, Table for Six

Best Asian Chinese Language Film

WINNER: In Search Of Lost Time

God****ed Asura

Moon Man

Professional Achievement Award

WINNER: Law Kar, Sek Kei

Lifetime Achievement Award

WINNER: Bowie Wu

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Was Warriors-of-Future the only Hong-Kong-Film-Awards winner that we've covered on the forum?

There’s something charming about Hong Kong sci-fi. It’s kinda simple like 80s Hollywood sci-fi, a basic warning fable akin to an expanded Star Trek episode. It feels lightweight and derivative in comparison to most other sci-fi.

This is the near future when we’ve ruined the climate and poisoned the world. Terminator bots serve as soldiers in endless wars. Cities are building force field domes to maintain livable conditions. A meteor brings an alien plant that cleans the atmosphere but grows alarmingly fast with lethal tentacles when exposed to water. Its flowers are poached from Stranger Things. A storm is coming that will make it grow and kill a lot of people. A small squad has a gene bomb (yay gene! gene bomb is my DJ name) that will neutralize the growth if injected into the plant’s pistil. If they fail, plan B is to nuke it and kill a lot of people. The squad has 3 hours.

The squad has iron man suits that have rocket boosters so they can jump far as well as be super strong and fast. They have drop down masks so they can convert to cgi figures easily. And there are terminator bots - just the metal skeletons, no govenator exoskin.

And there are giant bugs that are a cross between Jerusalem crickets and devil hounds. They have slobbery fangs and mandibles, which bugged me (no pun intended) because bugs don’t have bones so they don’t have teeth. That’s what the mandibles are for. But I’ll let it slide because they were kinda cool looking.

The effects are kinda okay but the plot is a lot of senseless action - stuff like retrieving the gene bomb from a teetering car wedged in a collapsing high rise while the bugs attack. Once the mission is underway, there’s not much more plot, just a lot of running about, blasting bugs, and typical HK sentimental moments like saving the lone surging little girl who somehow dodged the bugs.

It was good to see Louis Koo and Carina Lau can still find work. If this came out in the 80s, it would’ve been groundbreaking. Now it feels a bit dated to me.