Wanda owner Wang Jianlin aims to expand its cinema arm worldwide. (Photo : Reuters)
Wanda, China’s entertainment and real estate giant, is set to distribute the big-budget film “The Ghouls” in the United States through the AMC Entertainment, which it acquired in 2012.
The AMC theater chain will serve as a platform for the VFX-heavy movie film's international release. The distribution will receive backup and support from IM Global.
The news comes after the conglomerate's Wanda Pictures revealed its global ambitions in Cannes on Thursday, May 14.
"The Ghouls" is inspired by Zhang Muye's online fantasy adventure novels, which have sold around 9 million copies. The movie adaptation will be helmed by one of China's hottest directors, Wu'ershan.
The film will also feature a stellar cast including Shu Qi, Huang Bo, Chen Kun, Angelababy and Xia Yu.
While Wanda is confident that the movie will reap success in China, which has a very lucrative film market, the firm is eyeing to make it big internationally with the aid of the U.S.'s second largest theater chain.
"You've seen the trailer--it's got a great cast. You are attracted by the movie, and I think it will be very successful overseas," Jerry Ye, Wanda Culture Industry Group's vice president, remarked.
"We will of course promote this overseas. Our international sales partner is IM Global, and we also have the full support of AMC now," Ye told THR during the Cannes Film Festival.
Ye also hinted that the company is planning to expand its cinema network by purchasing other theater chains. However, the specifics of the endeavor are yet to be disclosed.
Wanda, which is owned by China's richest man Wang Jianlin, has already sold "The Ghouls" in other neighboring Asian countries such as Taiwan (CMC), Singapore (Shaw), Indonesia (Cinemaxx), Thailand (International Production Associates), Vietnam (BHD) and the Philippines (MVP).
