Summer box office picks up steam

During a recent event hosted by the administration to gather creators behind the latest big-name films, Lu Liang, deputy head of the China Film Administration, said that the summer season would be a feast of high-quality domestic films.

"This summer, filmmakers will present their latest work in theaters with the aim of resonating with audiences. While some may not yet meet the highest standards, the work reflects their sincere commitment to storytelling," Lu says.

The most anticipated films include Wuershan's fantasy film The Traveler, Chen Sicheng's espionage tale Decoded, female director Hu Mei's The Dream of the Red Chamber, and Light Chaser Animation's feature White Snake: Afloat.

As the Chinese equivalent of the mutants in Marvel's X-Men franchise, The Traveler — adapted from comic artist Mi Er's best-selling graphic novel The Outcast — depicts a group of individuals with super abilities and exceptional martial arts skills who disguise themselves as ordinary people to live in the modern world.

"The movie intertwines elements from Chinese philosophy, traditional wushu (martial arts) stunts and modern youth fashion. The comic has a large fan base in China, exemplifying the increasing appeal of domestic comics in recent years," says Wuershan.