Yao Chen’s Bad Rabbit Pictures Plots ‘Fleabag’-Style Premium Short Drama About Chinese Sea Goddess (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Chinese superstar Yao Chen is steering her production banner Bad Rabbit Pictures into premium short-form television with an ambitious limited series centered on Mazu, the legendary sea goddess who was born mortal in China’s Fujian province.

The short-form series, which draws inspiration from compact British dramas like “Fleabag,” will feature Yao, who also hails from Fujian, in a supporting role as a contemporary woman grappling with age-related anxieties while working for the deity.

The announcement comes as Bad Rabbit Pictures strengthens its international presence with two features premiering at the Berlin Film Festival: Huo Meng’s “Living the Land” and Rima Das’ “Village Rockstars 2.” “At first glance, these films seem nothing like each other, but at their core is Bad Rabbit’s spiritual essence — focusing on the connection between the natural world, the human world and the spiritual world,” Yao tells Variety. “Fujian has this unique social ecology where nature, humans and gods cohabitate in the same time and place,” Yao says about the upcoming premium short drama. “It’s where old customs are kept most intact.” The series aims to blend modern urban sensibilities with traditional spirituality, making it relatable for contemporary audiences.

Yao, known for her razor-sharp performances and social activism, has carved a niche as both a box office draw and a producer with a conscience.