Double vision

Director Teddy Chen Tak-shum (right) on set during the filming of Double World. CHINA DAILY

Chen was invited to direct the film in 2016, when the Chinese studio Filmko Film－which has coproduced Double World alongside Giant Interactive's film arm, Giant Pictures－was holding a promotional event for the fantasy sequel The Monkey King 3 in Shanghai.

"I was asked if I would like to get on board. It was such a sizable film, and I had dreamed of directing a cinematic adaptation of a video game for a long time, so I thought, 'why not?'" recalls Chen, revealing one of his hobbies is to play online games in his spare time.

However, the challenge was big and obvious: there have been few successes in the genre.

Citing Tomb Raider and Resident Evil, respectively adapted from the popular games with the same titles, as probably the two most influential examples, Chen reveals that he set a goal to empathize with game fans as well as appeal to a non-gaming audience.

"One of the main draws to playing a multiplayer game is that you can make many friends," Chen explains. "The players will probably establish a stronger connection with each other than with their acquaintances in real life, after they 'fight' shoulder-to-shoulder and share 'near death' experiences or a sense of loss when 'dying' on the battlefield in the digital world."

As a result, the film has a strong theme, highlighting the bonds forged between comrades.

In an imagined ancient China, the fantasy epic Double World fictionalizes that eight clans are called to recommend three of their best warriors to join a deadly competition to strive for the position of top military leader of the South Zhao Kingdom, which is preparing for war against a foreign enemy.

After accidentally finding themselves representing Qingyuan, one of the eight clans, a trio－comprising an orphan, a deserter and a thief－defeats the other clan champions and fulfills a series of seemingly impossible tasks, such as stealing an egg from a dragon, to be named as the eventual winners of the trial. It doesn't end there, however, as the plot twists to reveal a thrilling scheme.

"It's a very touching and emotional story. I have worked in the film industry for many years. I know that a big action scene might be forgotten as time passes, but characters who move an audience are etched into their minds for a long time," says Chen.

He also reveals the female protagonist, Jingang Xiaomei (Tough Girl), is named after a popular former player of Double World, who, after disappearing from the game, was discovered to have succumbed to illness and died. Her story touched the hearts of many of her online comrades, and no doubt they will see it as a fitting tribute to their fallen friend.

A Hong Kong native born in 1958, Chen started his showbiz career as a TV channel scriptwriter at a young age before working as the private assistant of kung fu giant Jackie Chan in mid-1970s.

After a few months, Chen quit the job which he once described as "a position below one person but above thousands"－as Jackie Chan was the most sought-after celebrity in Hong Kong at the time－to pursue his dream of becoming a director.