HONG KONG: Cinema Popular, a joint venture between Peter Ho-sun CHAN of 'The Warlords’ fame and Chinese filmmaker Huang Jianxin, plans to release 15 films over the next three years with investments of $73 million.

Cinema Popular was created in response to the rapid box office growth in mainland China. According to industry experts, earlier Chinese contribution to the budget of a film was around 25 per cent, with a 30-40 per cent recoupment which has now grown to 60-70 per cent. Chan would like to have a larger contribution to the budget from China.

Cinema Popular unveiled the cast of its maiden production Bodyguards and Assassins at the13th edition of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart) which opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The film shoot starts in April this year and has a cast that includes Chinese and Hong Kong stars Donnie Yen, Leon LAI, Wang Xueqi and Nicholas Tse among others.

The action sequences of the $23 million historical epic take place within a 24- hour period during which the bodyguards of Dr. Sun Yat-sen foiled an assassination attempt within the confined neighbourhood of the 1905 Central in Hong Kong.

Bodyguards and Assassins is to be directed by Teddy Chan who has also directed drama and action thrillers such as Twenty Something, Downtown Torpedoes, Purple Storm and the Jackie Chan starrer The Accidental Spy.

Cinema Popular’s team has constructed elaborate sets at studios outside Shanghai for its maiden venture film Bodyguards and Assassins. The construction includes recreation of the biggest ever 1:1 scale set of Hong Kong. Bodyguards and Assassins is also backed by the China Film Group and the Shanghai Media group among others.