New Treasure Raider (Photo : YouTube)
Two big satellite channels in Guangdong Province and Beijing would air a remake of a martial art classic on Feb. 9. It is based on a novel by Gu Long and considered a Chinese version of “Tarzan.”
The plot of "New Treasure Raiders" or “Xiao Shi Yi Lang” revolves around a martial artist who was orphaned and raised by wolves. The martial artist, Xiao, is in the middle of a conspiracy to steal a precious sword while also involved in a romance.
Yan Yikuan, Li Yi Xiao and Gan Ting are the stars of the remake, produced to commemorate the three decades of the author’s death in 1985. However, the show failed to air in August 2015, said Guk Gaau-leung, the veteran Hong Kong-based director of the TV show, reported China Daily.
Feng Si Niang, played by Li, and Shen Bijun, played by Gan, like Xiao, played by Yan. However, Shen has another admirer, Lian Chengbi, played by Zhu Yi Long. Lian is jealous over Shen’s affection for Xiao that resulted in Lian wanting to kill Xiao to get Shen’s attention and dominate the martial world.
Rielbox reported that "Xiao Shi Yi Lang" started filming on September 2014 and would have 45 episodes. The name means “The Eleventh Son.”
Gu wrote “Treasure Raiders” in 1969 when a Hong Kong film outfit asked for a screenplay. Since then, several movies and TV series had adapted the classic martial arts novel in the past 30 years.
Yan, who stars as Xiao, says the new TV remake would have a touch of comedy. He explained, “Xiao is lonely as he stayed with animals during the childhood and youth periods, but he always wants to communicate with the humans.” What made the situation funny is his way of communicating is a bit weird.
