Lucy Liu Expands ‘Pirate Queen’ Franchise

PIRATE PODCAST

Lucy Liu and Singer Studios are expanding their offerings “Pirate Queen” media universe in graphic novels and a podcast.

The franchise is built around a retelling of the real-life character stories Cheng Shihwho was a powerful female pirate in the South China Sea in the early 18th century.

The first iteration of the franchise, a VR experience based on a story by Maja Bodenstein, won the Tribeca Storyscapes Award and the Raindance Discovery Award in 2023. nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Emerging Media category.

The podcast is directed by Eloise Singer and narrated by Liu. Episode one debuts on September 10 on all major podcast platforms and features an exclusive interview with Liu.

The upcoming graphic novel series, published worldwide by Andrews McMeel Publishersmay eventually expand to cover the histories of 17 other female pirates.

IN MEMORIAM

The Busan International Film Festival will host a special section dedicated to actors Lee Sun Kyun who died in December under difficult circumstances.

Six of Lee’s works will be shown at the festival and lectures will take place. “The festival aims to reflect on and commemorate the achievements of the late actor, whose dignified and profound performances have represented the Korean film scene,” organizers said in a statement.

The selection includes early works “Paju”, directed by Park Chan-wook“Our Sunhi”, directed by Hong Sang-sooand ‘A Hard Day’ by Kim Soeng-hun.

It also includes an episode of Bong Joon-ho’s hit TV series “My Mister,” the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” and Choo Chang-min’s “Land of Happiness,” released this year after Lee’s death and in which he portrays a righteous soldier who becomes embroiled in a presidential assassination.

NEAR NEIGHBORS

Indian private sector company Mountain River Movies has entered into an agreement to cooperate with the Chinese government agency China Intercontinental Communications Center. Speaking at a signing ceremony in Beijing, the CEO of Mountain River Films said Chandra K. Jha said India and China are the two most populous countries in the world, something that makes the partnership “unique and promising.” He said his company has “taken the lead in ensuring that Indian content continues to thrive in China.”