The legendary superhero creator Stan Lee unveiled his latest character, Monkey Master, which he created with his long-time collaborator, Sharad Devarajan.
Leading Chinese film group, Shinework Pictures, announced a partnership with Lee’s media company POW! Entertainment, and Graphic India, to begin pre-production on a live-action Chinese theatrical film for ‘Monkey Master.’
“We are excited to announce this partnership to leverage Stan Lee’s experience creating some of the world’s most popular superhero characters to create an epic Chinese superhero film that will not only appeal to China but also globally to international markets,” said Shinework Pictures, founder and CEO, Jonathan Shen.
Recently Shinework announced its film fund and initial slate of projects, previously known for one of the biggest co-production films in China “Kung Fu Yoga” starring Jackie Chan. On the other hand, Stan Lee’s characters have generated over $15 billion at the global box office, creating some of the most beloved icons in entertainment.
“I have always been fascinated by the Chinese and Indian cultures which are so philosophical and rich in tradition and morality,” commented POW! Entertainment, chief creative officer, Stan Lee. “I’ve written countless superheroes of every nationality and every part of the world before, I’ve even created many heroes from other planets and galaxies, but Monkey Master will be unique in how it interweaves Chinese and Indian myth to create a hero that will entertain fans across the world with his martial arts skills and unstoppable super-powers.”
Further commenting on what the story would be, Graphic India, co-founder and CEO, Devarajan added,“The story will take place between ancient and modern day China and India as the myth of monkey warriors, known to both cultures come together in the creation of a modern day superhero.”
The mischievous and noble archetype of the monkey has been a foundation of Chinese and Indian folklore for thousands of years, making Monkey Master the perfect new superhero for Asia. While the film will primarily be targeted towards the Chinese market, the film will also be developed to appeal to international markets globally. The partners will look to cast leading Chinese, Indian, and international star cast.
Shinework Pictures has closed a co-production deal with India’s Cinema Capital Advisory to co-produce the film. Shinework’s producing team will include Jonathan Shen, Iris Wang, and Daljit DJ Parmar. POW! Entertainment, CEO, Gill Champion will be a producer on the film, with Lee and Devarajan attached as executive producers. From Cinema Capital attached as an executive producer will be Samir Gupta.