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Hong Kong’s most ambitious film project: ‘Sons of the Neon Night’ re-emerges
A new dawn for ‘Sons of the Neon Night’
Distribution Workshop, a prominent Asian sales and production firm, is making waves at the Busan International Film Festival by re-launching the highly anticipated film, Sons of the Neon Night. Initially attached to the project in 2015, the company now brings the Juno Mak-directed film to the forefront, boasting a stellar cast and the highest budget ever for a Hong Kong production.
A high-octane thriller with a star-studded cast
Sons of the Neon Night is set to be a visually stunning, high-energy police-crime-action-thriller. The film reimagines Hong Kong in a deconstructed, stylized manner, featuring an A-list cast that includes:
- Takeshi Kaneshiro (known for House of Flying Daggers)
- Tony Leung Ka-fai (from Cold War)
- Sean Lau Ching-wan (star of Life Without Principle)
- Louis Koo (featured in Warriors of Future)
- Ritchie Jen (from Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In)
Adding to the film’s allure is a score composed by the late Sakamoto Ryuichi, renowned for his work on The Last Emperor.
A monumental budget and ambitious vision
With a production budget exceeding $50 million, Sons of the Neon Night is currently in post-production and is slated for release by the first half of 2025. This ambitious project marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong cinema, both in terms of scale and artistic vision.
Juno Mak: A visionary director
Juno Mak, a leading contemporary artist and singer from Hong Kong, has also made a name for himself as a filmmaker. His 2013 debut, Rigor Mortis, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, earning critical acclaim. The announcement of Sons of the Neon Night followed soon after, but the project faced delays before finally moving forward.
A gripping narrative
The film opens with a massive explosion and a Michael-Mann-style gunfight in a snow-covered Causeway Bay, a bustling district on Hong Kong Island. This dramatic event serves as a diversion, preluding a series of wild actions orchestrated by the heir to a global pharmaceutical conglomerate, played by Takeshi Kaneshiro. The plot thickens as the heir’s father, the conglomerate’s founder and a possible drug baron, is killed in a hospital. A mission to declare war on drugs ensues, plunging both the world and the underworld into chaos.
Expanding horizons: Taiwan romance dramas
In addition to Sons of the Neon Night, Distribution Workshop is also representing two Taiwanese romance dramas:
- Penguin Girl, directed by emerging filmmaker Yang Yuyu
- Unexpected Courage, inspired by the true story of director Shawn Yu and starring acclaimed singer-actress René Liu and Hsueh Shih-Ling, a best supporting actor award winner at Busan’s Asia Contents Awards
For Unexpected Courage, Distribution Workshop will manage sales in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan only.
Final thoughts
Sons of the Neon Night promises to be a groundbreaking film that pushes the boundaries of Hong Kong cinema. With its high-octane action, star-studded cast, and ambitious vision, it is set to captivate audiences worldwide. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Taiwanese romance dramas in Distribution Workshop’s portfolio highlights the company’s commitment to diverse and compelling storytelling.
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