Hao Jingfang wins the Hugo Award for best novelette with her work Folding Beijing in 2016. Her latest project is the film The Last Brave Man, directed by Yang Chao. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hao's win has added to the genre's development in Chinese cinema, convincing more filmmakers to produce such stories.

"Science fiction is mostly about the futuristic world. Chinese viewers have become used to watching Hollywood space epics, but if we want to reshape the genre in China we need to establish a convincing relationship between the story and Chinese society," Yang says.

But for the Chinese market, action sequences are a must. So, Yang says he plans to invite world-class visual-effects studios to take part in the project.

Deeply influenced by the American director Andy Wachowski, Yang says The Matrix franchise is a good example of balancing content and commerce.

"Our film will be about human free will and adventurous spirit, as well as the inheritance of civilizations and the origin of life," he says.

In addition to the grand theme, iconic Chinese locations, such as Beijing's hutong (alleyways), are likely to be used in The Last Brave Man.

"I hope the viewers see it as an authentic Chinese science fiction movie. It will have the Chinese flair in a blockbuster formula," Yang says.

With a budget of up to 150 million yuan ($21.74 million), the film's shooting will start in 2018.