Warriors of Future
 | This article needs to be updated. (October 2020) |
| Warriors of Future | |
|---|---|
 Teaser film poster | |
| Directed by | Ng Yuen-fai |
| Screenplay by | Law Chi-leung |
| Starring | Louis Koo Sean Lau Carina Lau Tse Kwan-ho Philip Keung Nick Cheung |
| Cinematography | Ng Man-ching |
Production companies | One Cool Film Production One Cool CMC iQiyi Pictures PJ One Cool Film Gravity Pictures JQ Pictures One Cool Ocean Films |
| Distributed by | One Cool Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Budget | US$56 million[1] |
Warriors of Future (Chinese: 明日戰記), previously known as Virtus (Chinese: 矛盾戰爭), is an upcoming Hong Kong science fiction action film directed by visual effects artist Ng Yuen-fai in his directorial debut and starring Louis Koo, Sean Lau and Carina Lau. Having been in development for three years, the film began production on 12 February 2017[2] and was originally set for release in 2019.[3][4] After a long delay, the film is slated for a theatrical release in 2022.[5]
Plot
In 2055,[6] a meteorite, which brings a fast-growing alien vine named "Pandora", crashes down on a barren Earth ravaged by pollution and global warming. "Pandora" purifies the planet but kills everything in its path. To protect the citizens of their city, the heavily armored military of Hong Kong, armed with the plant's genetic map, tries but fails to destroy "Pandora" and uncovers a conspiracy.
Cast
- Louis Koo
- Sean Lau
- Carina Lau
- Tse Kwan-ho
- Philip Keung
- Nick Cheung (guest appearance)
- Eddy Ko
- Kevin Chu
- Ng Siu-hin
- Tony Wu
- Sakurako Okubo
Production
Development
The film was first announced in May 2015 under the title, Virtus, and was set to be star Louis Koo and be produced by his film production company, One Cool Film Production, which will also work on the film's visual effects, under a budget of HK$300 million, with Benny Chan set to direct.[7][8] Although filming was set to begin in the end of 2015, a teaser trailer was released which featured Koo in a robot suit.[9]
Filming
Production for the film officially began on 12 February 2017 on a set in Shenzhen which took two months to build according to Koo for the film's opening. Koo also revealed that the set is for a city taking place decades in the future with polluted air and water supply. The film will be directed by visual effects artist Ng Yuen-fai, who worked on the special effects for films such as The Warlords, Bodyguards and Assassins and The White Storm. Aside from Koo, the cast also includes Sean Lau and Philip Keung, alongside newcomer actors Kevin Chu, Ng Siu-hin and Tony Wu. Lau states his character will be fighting aliens and large robots with mechanical equipment while Keung revealed that he will play a one-eyed driver.[2][10]
On 11 March 2017, One Cool Film Production released a making of featurette teaser displaying its new title, Warriors of Future, and revealing the film's 36 month pre-production and its new budget of US$45 million. According to the teaser, production for the film is slated to take 4 months to complete while post-production will take 18 months.[11]
On 5 June 2017, it was announced that the film's four month shoot in Shenzhen has been complete and will resume its shoot in Hong Kong in August 2017.[12]
On 19 March 2018, a new teaser trailer for the film was released. Aside from previous announced cast members, the trailer also featured new cast members such as Carina Lau, Nick Cheung and Tse Kwan-ho.[6] On the same day, it was also reported that the film's production has increased to US$56 million.[1]
On 15 March 2019, One Cool Film Production released a new trailer for the film.[13]
Release
Warriors of Future was originally set for theatrical release in 2019,[3] but its release was delayed indefinitely. On 10 December 2021, One Cool Pictures released a promotional clip featuring former TVB News anchor Vince Ng in a mock news clip reporting a meteorite is approaching the Earth and is projected to hit the Hong Kong at 8 PM on 17 December 2021, which was when a new trailer for the film premiered on billboard screens throughout Hong Kong before being available on the internet, displaying a slated release year of 2022.[14][5]
References
- ^ a b "Filmart: Louis Koo to Produce and Star in $56M Sci-Fi Epic 'Warriors of Future' (Exclusive)".
- ^ a b "【 MOVIE6 新聞 】耗資過3億港製科幻片《 明日戰記 》正式開鏡 古天樂、劉青雲聯手打外星怪物拯救地球".
- ^ a b "港產科幻片《明日戰記》投資3.5億 古天樂劉青雲裝甲上陣".
- ^ "港產科幻片《明日戰記》投資3.5億古天樂劉青雲裝甲上陣".
- ^ a b "古天樂劉青雲《明日戰記》明年上映 全新片段曝光 (21:37)".
- ^ a b "【明日戰記】古天樂高科技戰甲打外星生物 張家輝劉嘉玲拯救地球".
- ^ "Louis Koo Splurges $300 Million on Science Fiction Movie, "Virtus"".
- ^ "Is 'VIRTUS' Louis Koo's answer to 'Edge of Tomorrow'?".
- ^ "《矛盾戰爭 Virtus》 - Official Teaser".
- ^ "LOUIS KOO AND SEAN LAU TEAM UP TO SAVE THE EARTH".
- ^ "《明日戰記》Warriors of Future 科幻製作預告".
- ^ "【明日戰記】古天樂碌人情卡爆大陣容︰再有兩位影帝影后加盟".
- ^ "《明日戰記》2019最新預告 公開科幻世界新面貌顛覆想像".
- ^ "古天樂新片《明日戰記》蓄勢待發 伍家謙「重操故業」當新聞主播？".