Cannes Market Dailies

young-adult, FEMALE SUPEr-HERO BOOK SERIES the monkey king’s daughter TO BE ADAPTED INTO feature FILM

Red Sea Media, in partnership with Beijing Chunqiu Time Culture Company, to Introduce the Movie, an Official Chinese Co-Production, to International Buyers at Cannes

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 13, 2015) –– Young-adult book series The Monkey King’s Daughter by Todd A. DeBonis will be adapted into a feature film based upon a screenplay written by DeBonis. Roman Kopelevich’s Red Sea Media is handling international sales for the film and will introduce it to buyers in Cannes.

The movie will be an official Chinese co-production slated to shoot in December, 2015 in China and Canada.

Powerhouse Chinese financier-producer Jianmin Lv, CEO of Beijing-based Chunqiu Time Culture Company, whose most recent movie WOLF WARRIORS has been the breakout hit of the China box office this year grossing over $90 million since its release in March, will co-finance and co-produce THE MONKEY KING’S DAUGHTER in conjunction with ANA Media’s Scott Einbinder (KILLER JOE, THE COVENANT) and Red Sea Media. 

Aki L.G. Aleong (CHINAMAN’S CHANCE), CEO of Mustard See Media Group, will executive produce. Henry Luk’s China-based Ace Studios will provide comprehensive production services. 

The novel is the first in a series of four following the high-adventure story of Meilin, an ordinary, suburban, California high school sophmore facing all of the problems that bright, young girls face but who knows nothing about her father's true Chinese heritage. On her 16th birthday, her genetic make-up activates, transforming her into an extra-ordinary, super-heroine and thrusting her into the magical realms of the past to battle monstrous demons from ancient China. With the help of her father, the Monkey King (China’s most famous mythical hero), she must save her mother and friends from certain death.

The book series has sold into numerous international territories and has quickly found a loyal following among teen girls and parents for its strong values and theme of female, self-empowerment.

Lv, known as the “godfather of independent film” in China, has financed and produced more than 60 films. 

The producers are out to directors and will soon begin, in conjunction with Beijing Chunqiu Time Culture Company, a worldwide search for an English-speaking, Chinese, teenage actress for the role of a Meilin who will resonate with and be loved by both Eastern and Western audiences.

The visual effects for the movie will be created by VFX powerhouse Hydraulx, whose recent work includes Warner Bros’ SAN ANDREAS, Disney’s THE AVENGERS, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, IRON MAN 2 and many more. 

“China is the second biggest film market in the world. I’m proud and excited to be selling this magnificent, Chinese origin, young-adult movie which transcends genres and cultures,” said Kopelevich.

Author Todd DeBonis was represented by attorney Elaine M. Rogers, Esq. of Meister, Seelig & Fein LLP. Aleong was represented by attorney Thomas S. Rubin.

In Cannes, Red Sea Media will also be handling international sales on the sci-fi thriller BEYOND SKYLINE, GRIDLOCKED starring Dominic Purcell and Danny Glover, and the romancer IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG with Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung.