Prequel to Detective Chinatown series hits screens on New Year's Day

Director Chen Sicheng's successful suspense-comedy franchise, the Detective Chinatown series, is making a return with an exciting new installment which will hit the big screen on Jan 29.

The upcoming film, Detective Chinatown 1900, serves as a prequel to the series, taking audiences on an investigative journey back to San Francisco in the year 1900. The story unfolds with the murder of a white woman in Chinatown, sending shock waves throughout society. Qin Fu, a traditional Chinese medicine physician portrayed by Liu Haoran, and Ah Gui, played by Wang Baoqiang, team up to unravel the mystery and apprehend the culprit.

Beyond the gripping investigation, the movie delves into the origins of Chinatown in the United States, showcasing a narrative of unity and mutual support among Chinese immigrants spanning a century.

Director Chen views the year 1900 as a pivotal era of rapid global transformation, with the Western world having undergone the Second Industrial Revolution while China remained under the feudal society of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In the vibrant city of San Francisco, teeming with newcomers from around the world, a complex tapestry of influences provides ample room for imaginative storytelling within the film.

The star-studded cast includes Hong Kong sensation Chow Yun-fat, US actor John Cusack, Bai Ke, Zhang Xincheng, and comedian Yue Yunpeng.

Additionally, the previous three installments of the series were filmed in Bangkok, New York, and Tokyo, respectively.