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French production company Master Movies announced that it has acquired the rights to remake the 2023 Chinese comedy film "Johnny Keep Walking!", marking a rare instance of a mainland Chinese film being adapted into a foreign language version. The agreement was reached with the Chinese company Tiger Pictures Entertainment.
The film is a sharp satire of political bureaucracy within corporations and office life. It was directed by Dong Ronin, with a screenplay by Dong Ying Lujia, and stars comedian Da Bing. The story follows a simple technician at a rural factory who is mistakenly promoted to a senior managerial position at the company’s headquarters due to administrative errors and failed bribery deals.
The film achieved unexpected success in China, grossing over 1.292 billion Chinese yuan (approximately 186 million USD) at the domestic box office. Internationally, it earned around 995,000 USD from screenings in 11 countries, with Tiger Pictures handling its global distribution.
Significance of the Deal and Its Impact
Owen Young, a representative of Tiger Pictures, stated that "Johnny Keep Walking!" represents a milestone for the Chinese film industry, as it is among the few Chinese films to be remade for Western audiences, reflecting the expanding global reach of Chinese storytelling.
Lola and Marco Pacchioni, directors of Master Movies, expressed their enthusiasm for acquiring the French remake rights, emphasizing that the film offers a sharp and realistic perspective on corporate life. They noted that this aligns with their company’s focus on delivering distinctive stories centered on characters that reflect contemporary society.
Film Background and Expansion Strategy
The film’s themes addressing toxic corporate environments and bureaucratic structures make it well-suited for adaptation across different cultures. Tiger Pictures explained that this deal is part of their shift from focusing solely on distributing Chinese films internationally to a broader strategy of managing and developing intellectual property rights on a global scale.
This news has been re-edited based on a report published by variety.com, while maintaining the core facts presented in the original source.