Alibaba Pictures Gets ‘Real’ With Korean Movie Investment
Alibaba Pictures, the film investment arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has committed to invest in upcoming South Korean movie “Real.”
The picture stars Kim Soo-hyun, the male lead from “My Love From The Stars,” the smash hit Korean TV series that has been widely exported and earned large online viewership in China.
“Real” is to be directed from December by Lee Jeong-sub (“Romantic Island”) and produced by special purpose vehicle Real SPC. Aside from Kim, no other cast attachments have yet been confirmed.
The deal was signed last week in Busan by Alibaba Pictures Group head Zhang Qiang, according to the Yonhap news agency quoting Keyeast, the talent agency that represents Kim. Key east confirmed the deal, but, contacted by Variety, APG has so far not offered any comment.
APG was set up in mid 2014 when Alibaba acquired majority control of listed company ChinaVision. The company retains its separate listing on the Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges. Alibaba has suggested that it will transfer several entertainment assets to APG, though has not yet done so.
To date the company has invested in “The Ferryman,” a film being produced by Wong Kar-wai; “Little Door Gods,” an animation that is set to release in January 2016; and “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation.”
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