(China Daily) Adapted from one of the best-known works by the renowned martial arts novelist Louis Cha, known as Jin Yong, The Legend of Heroes: Hot Blooded has swiftly gained international acclaim, resonating across diverse overseas markets, as confirmed by its producers.
Set in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the narrative follows the journey of Guo Jing, a diligent yet unremarkable rural youth who evolves into a legendary swordsman through a series of adventures, intertwined with his romance with Huang Rong, the clever daughter of a daring swordsman.
The 30-episode series, Hot Blooded, premiered online on June 17 and is currently available on various overseas platforms like WeTV, Netflix, YouTube, and Rakuten Viki. The drama is either already released or scheduled for broadcast on numerous prominent local online platforms in nearly 10 countries, including South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Russia and Cambodia, with plans for further screenings in the United States, France, India, Africa and the Middle East.
Part of The Legend of Heroes franchise, which commenced two years ago with a vision of five stand-alone stories, each adapted from different Jin Yong novels and entrusted to five distinct directors, Hot Blooded is the initial installment based on The Legend of the Condor Heroes. This classic tale, serialized in the Hong Kong Commercial Daily from 1957 to 1959, has seen numerous adaptations over the years, including the popular 1983 version starring Felix Wong Yat-wa and Barbara Yung Mei-ling.
Directed by Yang Lei, acclaimed for the sci-fi drama Three-Body, and featuring actors Ci Sha as Guo Jing and Bao Shang'en as Huang Rong, Hot Blooded employs a dynamic narrative style to engage a broader audience, particularly the younger generation. The script strategically balances pace and depth, aiming to highlight the chivalrous themes and explore the intricate personas of characters like Yang Kang, a pivotal figure with complex loyalties, as noted by critics.
