After spending six years and HK$450mn (US$58mn) on science fiction epic Warriors of Future, Hong Kong film star and avowed Star Wars fan Louis Koo hoped it would capture the imaginations of China’s millions of cinemagoers.
But the film, about the battle to save a post-apocalyptic Earth from an invasive alien plant, grossed a lukewarm Rmb679mn ($100mn) on the mainland, failing to crack the box office top 10 last year.
“The pandemic has changed [the film industry] a lot, including how we evaluate when is the best time to release a film in which market and how it will potentially perform,” Koo, who produced and starred in the film, said. “We are of course hoping for a quick recovery.”