Will Sci-Fi See A Bigger Boom in China?
In recent years, Chinese science fiction has undergone a renaissance. Actually, more like a reinvention — even though Chinese authors have been writing sci-fi tales since the early twentieth century, various political movements have pushed back on the genre throughout its history.
But nowadays, with mainstream sci-fi smash hits such as The Wandering Earth and The Three-Body Problem, could sci-fi become a mainstay genre in China? Its government certainly seems to think so.
A document entitled “A Few Opinions on the Promotion and Development of Science Fiction Movies” was published on August 7 outlining plans to create a robust sci-fi film industry and, most importantly, “push our country from a movie power to a movie superpower.”
Chinese science fiction stories have already demonstrated potential on the world stage: Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem novel was famously recommended by President Barack Obama and has inspired countless TV and film adaptations. Yet this new strategy may well experience a few bumps as it attempts to get off the ground.
Frant Gwo’s massively successful The Wandering Earth quickly became the country’s third highest-grossing movie of all time. However, another attempt at a sci-fi blockbuster, Shanghai Fortress starring “little fresh meat” star Luhan, was so badly received that the director apologized.
Whether or not a simplistic mixture of CGI effects and nationalist messaging will win over domestic, let alone international audiences, therefore seems far from certain.
For more background information on the sci-fi campaign, hit "Read More" at the bottom of this message.
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