PIRATE PODCAST

Lucy Liu and Singer Studios are expanding their “Pirate Queen” media universe into graphic novels and a podcast.

The franchise is centered around a reimagining of the tales surrounding the real-life figure of Cheng Shih , a formidable female pirate who reigned over the South China Sea in the early 18th century.

The franchise’s first iteration, a VR experience based on a story by Maja Bodenstein, won the Tribeca Storyscapes Award and the Raindance Discovery Award in 2023. It is currently nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Emerging Media category.

The podcast is helmed by Eloise Singer and features narration by Liu. The first episode premieres on Sept. 10, across all major podcast platforms, and includes an exclusive interview with Liu.

The forthcoming graphic novel series, set to be published globally by Andrews McMeel Publishing , may eventually expand to chronicle the lives of 17 other female pirates.

IN MEMORIAM

The Busan International Film Festival will feature a special section honoring actor Lee Sun-kyun who passed away in December under challenging circumstances .

Six of Lee’s works will be screened at the festival and talk events held. “The festival aims to reflect on and commemorate the achievements of the late actor, whose dignified and profound performances have represented the Korean film scene,” organizers said in a statement.

The selection encompasses early works like “Paju,” directed by Park Chan-wook , “Our Sunhi,” directed by Hong Sang-soo , and “A Hard Day,” by Kim Soeng-hun.

The program will feature an episode of the beloved television series “My Mister,” Bong Joon-ho’s Academy Award-winning “Parasite,” and Choo Chang-min’s “Land of Happiness,” which premiered this year following Lee’s passing. In the latter film, he portrays a virtuous soldier entangled in a presidential assassination plot.

NEAR NEIGHBORS

India's private sector company Mountain River Films has established a partnership with the Chinese government agency China Intercontinental Communication Centre . At a signing ceremony in Beijing, Mountain River Films CEO Chandra K. Jha highlighted the shared status of India and China as the world's two most populous nations, making their collaboration “unique and promising.” He emphasized that his company “has taken the lead in ensuring the continued success of Indian content in China.”