The company behind popular Finnish sci-fi franchise Iron Sky expands to the China market. Finnish Iron Sky Universe and Shandong Jiabo Culture Development Co. Ltd., are co-producing the film Iron Sky: The Ark, to be directed by Timo Vuorensola (Iron Sky, Iron Sky The Coming Race). The film, which is the third installment in the Iron Sky saga, is going into production next year in China, and will hit the theaters in 2018. The budget has not been announced, but will exceed the previous Iron Sky installments.
Iron Sky: The Ark’s distribution will be handled by a major Chinese distributor in China and Iron Sky Universe outside China. The film’s Finnish producer is Tero Kaukomaa (Iron Sky,
“I’m thankful for this opportunity”, says Kaukomaa, who also made the first Finnish-Chinese kung-fu film Jade Warrior back in 2005. “China film market is growing faster than any other film market in the world, and is expected to surpass US market in a few years. This is a big step for our mission to expand Iron Sky’s franchise globally.”
Director Timo Vuorensola, no stranger to challenging, visual effects heavy science fiction, is also excited about the opportunity. “The script is great and fits perfectly to my vision on what the Iron Sky’s universe should be all about – conspiracies, visually stunning action and loads of fun.”
Mr. Song Xianqiang, CEO of Jiabo Culture is no less excited about the cooperation. “We are thrilled with Iron Sky The Ark, a Chinese story and dream on the big screen and the innovative model of the production which contributes to the richness of international cooperation in China film market.”
Putting the parties’ co-operation together is Executive Producer of Iron Sky: The Ark, Ms. May He, CEO of Longevity Intl. Enterprises of Canada, with rich experience on working with world top directors in China market and international film production. “This is a perfect match, a powerful merge of international film series with China market”, she comments. “Science fiction movies are very well received in China, and Iron Sky: The Ark will be the Chinese science fiction story illustrated with international advanced film technology.”
The first Iron Sky movie was a global phenomenon, breaking the barriers of the independent science fiction action genre, spreading all over the world. Prompted by the film’s success, producer Kaukomaa and director Vuorensola established Iron Sky Universe, a company designated to build the franchise of Iron Sky. The second part of the saga, Iron Sky The Coming Race, is currently in post production, and will be released in the fall of 2017.