Jackie Chan’s ‘Chinese Zodiac’ Grosses $130M In 2 Weeks
In its two weeks of release in China, Jackie Chan’s Chinese Zodiac has grossed $116 million and another $14 million in other parts of Asia. As of January 6, CZ12, as it’s sometimes known, has also taken in $5.75 million in Malaysia, $3.67 in Singapore, $1.55 million in Thailand and $1.35 million in Vietnam, according to Film Business Asia. It has also grossed $1.38 million in Hong Kong, where it faced stiff competition from Hollywood titles including The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Les Misérables. It also has tallied roughly $600,000 in Taiwan since its release December 28. Later this month Chinese Zodiac is expteded to open in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines and Russia.
CTV To Sample ‘The Taste’
Canada´s CTV has acquired broadcast rights to the U.S. version of The Taste. The ABC cooking competition show will be hosted by Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson and premieres in primetime January 22. ABC ordered nine episodes of the show that sees Bourdain and Lawson head a panel juding home cooks and restaurateurs who train in teams with mentors. Red Arrow International has sales on the show that was created by Kinetic Content. Other sales of The Taste include FOX in India, Australia´s Nine Network and M6 in France.
Ex-Mobster Lou Ferrante Takes Discovery ‘Inside The Gangsters’ Code’
Produced by Nerd TV, Inside The Gangsters’ Code is a 5-part hourlong series led by former street boss for the New York mob, Lou Ferrante. Discovery Networks International says the show “invites viewers into the inner workings of some of the world’s most notorious gangs.” Beginning late February, the series will premiere on the Discovery Channel in 217 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Ferrante will shed light on different gang cultures, characters and modes of operation in El Salvador, the Philippines, New Mexico, Italy and Poland by immersing himself in the respective cultures, inside and outside of prisons. DNI’s Elizabeth McIntyre says the show, “offers exclusive insight into empires that operate both within and beneath the apparent culture. The knowledge and passion, risks and challenges undertaken by Lou give a completely new perception to organized crime.”