Scheming, planning and hostages – All part of the lifestyles of the rich and powerful in Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
Empress Wu Zetian, who rules with her husband, Emperor Gaozong, orders the navy’s warships to Baekje Kingdom. They are to aid their old ally that is in the midst of an invasion by the aggressive Buyeo forces, who may target China next.
Before they can leave port, however, the commanding warships are sunk by a mysterious black shadow that rises to the surface of the water.
Sacrificial Maiden
The citizens of Luoyang, the Eastern Capital, believe that the Sea Dragon is responsible and that a maiden must be sacrificed in order to appease it.
The most beautiful woman in the city, Courtesan Yin (played by Angelababy) – who was forcefully chosen as she slighted the upper society by refusing to service them – is to be imprisoned in the Sea Dragon Temple and kept chaste for three years.
Intrigue & Action
En route to the temple, she becomes a victim of an attempted kidnapping. A young Dee Ren Jie (played by Mark Chao), a high-standing member of court, foils the plot.
Dee is then suspected of being connected to the sea monster and is arrested. Thereafter, he escapes with some help and tackles the mystery and the case.
A Prequel to Delve Deeper
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon, is a prequel to Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame, which starred Andy Lau as the lead character.
Director Tsui Hark, renowned for period action films, says, “When I started thinking about the plot of the next film, I couldn’t help but wonder how Dee first became a detective. In the original movie, he was already an established figure. But I really wondered how he first came to enter the Supreme Court; something that was not explored in the original novels.”
“Coincidentally, Huayi Brothers then suggested that we make a young version of Detective Dee, so we were really in tune with one another,” he enthuses.
The Real Detective Dee
Dee was a real-life, historical figure born in 630 AD who had an illustrious career as a high-ranking official in the Tang Dynasty.
Based on the novels by Dutch diplomat Robert van Gulik, who wrote the book while stationed in China and Japan, the film depicts the fascinating world of the Tang Dynasty and the famous detective.
Is there a real sea dragon that will appear from the deep? Watch to find out.
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon [TBA]
Director: Tsui Hark
Starring: Mark Chao, Angelababy, Carina Lau and Feng Shaofeng
Genre: Period, Action, Mystery
Run Time: 134 min
Release: Sep 27
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