Chinese Streamer iQiyi Unveils Bumper Slate, With Liu Cixin Adaptation, ‘Brotherhood Of Blades’ Sequel; Strikes Deal With Malaysia’s Suke TV

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Chinese streaming giant iQiyi has announced a slate of 33 Chinese original productions, including Pledge Of Allegiance, a sequel to hit martial arts film Brotherhood Of Blades, and an adaptation of hot Chinese sci-fi writer Liu Cixin’s Ball Lightning.The streamer, which has been making a big push into Southeast Asian markets, has also struck a deal with Malaysian broadcaster Suke TV for exclusive rights to ten Malay variety shows to stream on its iQiyi International platform for audiences in Singapore and Malaysia.The new Chinese content slate is divided across five genres – Epic Tales, Young Power, Mystery Adventures, Oriental Fantasy and Differentiated Romance.Pledge Of Allegiance, a spin-off from 2014 hit Brotherhood Of Blades about a group of brutal secret police, falls under the Epic Tales banner, along with new seasons of hot period dramas, Nirvana In Fire 3 and Chinese Paladin 4.

Brotherhood Of Blades grossed $14m (RMB93m) in Chinese theatres in 2014, a time when it was thought local audiences were tiring of period martial arts movies.New show Thirteen Hongs Of Canton is set against the Qing Dynasty factories in Guangzhou, which were the only trading port between China and the West at the time.

Cao Dun, whose credits include critically-acclaimed show The Longest Day In Chang’an, will direct.Young Power, catering for China’s Generation Z viewers, includes an adaptation of sci-fi novel Ball Lightning, written by hot sci-fi author Liu Cixin, whose trilogy The Three-Body Problem is currently being adapted by Netflix.

The YA sci-fi series revolves around a teenager who has a mysterious encounter on the night of his 14th birthday.Also under the Young Power banner are The Heart Of Genius, starring Zhang Zifeng (Sister,