Huayi Brothers’ planned release of World War II epic ‘The Eight Hundred’ after 14-month delay sends shares soaring
- ‘The Eight Hundred’ will be released on August 21 after it was withdrawn last summer
- Shares of Chinese filmmaker Huayi Brothers Media surge by the maximum daily limit
Shares of Chinese entertainment companies surged on Monday after the producer of the World War II drama, The Eight Hundred, announced a new release date for the film, nearly 14 months after it was abruptly withdrawn.
“August 21, see you at the theatre,” the official Weibo account of The Eight Hundred said in a social media post along with a new poster of the film on Sunday afternoon.
Huayi Brothers surged 10 per cent to the top of its trading limit at 5.25 yuan, after the release date of the China-produced World War II epic was announced.
Shares of other media companies rose in its wake, including Hong Kong-listed Maoyan Entertainment, which jumped 9.1 per cent to HK$14.12. Shenzhen-listed Beijing Jingxi Culture and Tourism, the producer of Wolf Warrior 2, also shot up 10 per cent to 8.07 yuan.
The World War II epic was scheduled for release after the film’s June 15 premiere last year at the Shanghai International Film Festival, but that was abruptly scrapped “due to the technical reasons”. Ten days later, the film’s official release, slated for July 5, was cancelled.
“After consultation between the production team and other entities, The Eight Hundred will cancel its original July 5 premiere and temporarily vacate the summer release date window. The new release date will be announced at a later time,” the film’s official Weibo account said on June 25 last year.