German sales company Atlas International Film has acquired the international sales rights to the highly anticipated Hong Kong action film Drunken Blade. This marks a major push for the film onto the global market. International distributors will soon have access to the latest from the thriving Chinese martial arts cinema scene, known for its intricate choreography and stunning stunts. This deal means the film, which combines classic action with modern sensibility, is set to be a big title on the international sales circuit.
The project is a passion project for Chinese action star Li Bingyuan, who is not only starring in the film but also wrote and directed it. This rare triple threat commitment shows the personal vision behind Drunken Blade to deliver a real and visceral martial arts experience. The film is described as a traditional Hong Kong actioner that deeply roots itself in the wuxia and kung fu martial arts cinematic traditions. This means a mix of epic, weapon-based swordplay (wuxia) and grounded, acrobatic hand-to-hand combat (kungfu) for fans of the golden age of the genre.
Li Bingyuan is joined by a strong cast to bring performance and fighting cred to the screen. Rising star Sun Yiran takes a key role and adds drama alongside the lead. Crucially, the cast also includes a real life MMA fighter, a trend that is becoming more common in the industry to integrate the brutal efficiency of modern mixed martial arts into classic fight scenes. This blend of traditional style with modern fighting grit is going to be a big selling point for international buyers looking for fast action.
The deal with Atlas International Film – a company that has handled many high quality genre films – comes at a good time for Asian cinema looking for wider Western distribution. The appetite for well choreographed action films is global, so Drunken Blade is a hot property in territories across Europe, North America and beyond. Atlas will be presenting the film to distributors worldwide, leveraging the star power of Li Bingyuan and the enduring popularity of the “drunken fighting” subgenre that has been popularized over decades by martial arts legends.
With wuxia style and modern action and a personal vision from the star, Drunken Blade is going to be a big international debut. Atlas has got this latest Hong Kong film for martial arts fans worldwide, so it’s a big one.