Louis Koo in 'Back to the Past' One Cool Group Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Well Go USA has picked up North American rights to Louis Koo's big-budget action drama Back to the Past and will release the film in theaters on January 30, the distributor said Thursday. Directed by Ng Yuen-fai and Jack Lai, the feature continues the story of the hit 2001 Hong Kong series A Step Into the Past and reteams many of its original stars, including Koo, Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok and Joyce Tang, alongside new additions Michael Miu, Bai Baihe and Louis Cheung. Set years after the events of the TV series, the film finds Koo's Hong Siu-lung drawn back to China's Qin Dynasty, where he joins forces with Emperor Ying Ching (Lam) to fend off a time-traveling adversary whose quest for revenge threatens both the empire and the future. The project was produced by Louis Koo and Wai-Bat Tang, with action choreography by Hong Kong legend Sammo Hung. Related Stories TV Martin Clunes to Play Disgraced BBC News Anchor Huw Edwards in Two-Part Drama About Scandal That Rocked Britain Movies Horror Maestro Lee Cronin Set for an Oscar Wilde Award (Exclusive) "Back to the Past offers something for everyone, deftly weaving together expertly choreographed action with rich historical elements and innovative science fiction," said Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO at Well Go USA Entertainment. "The film is an enthralling epic that is sure to rekindle nostalgia for devoted fans and will become a fast favorite for those discovering the universe for the first time."The film recently opened to strong returns across Greater China. In Hong Kong, Back to the Past grossed $1.48 million (HK$11.54 million) on its first day - the biggest opening day ever for a local Hong Kong film - and went on to earn $5.4 million (HK$42.36 million) over its debut weekend. In mainland China, the movie generated $24 million (RMB 78.6 million) during the same opening frame, according to Artisan Gateway. Continuing the narrative thread from a series that has long held cult status across Chinese-language markets, Back to the Past blends sci-fi with palace-era intrigue and large-scale action set-pieces. Visual effects were handled by the team behind Koo's 2022 sci-fi hit Warriors of Future, underscoring the new film's franchise ambitions. Well Go - which specializes in Asian action and genre titles for North America across theatrical, home entertainment and digital platforms - will follow the theatrical rollout with downstream releases, including availability on the company's Hi-YAH! streaming channel. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Oscars Zurich Festival to Honor 'Late Shift' Director Petra Volpe at Oscar Screening Wagner Moura 'Awards Chatter' Pod: Wagner Moura on Brazil's 'The Secret Agent,' Importance of Memory, 'Narcos' 10 Years Later and Trump's Invasion of Venezuela Heat Vision Sadie Sink Saw Fan Theories She'd Be in Next 'Spider-Man' Movie, Then "Two Days Later, They Asked Me to Do It" Heat Vision 'Tangled' Live-Action Movie Finds Its Leads: Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim (Exclusive) Theater Marcia Rodd, Actress in 'Little Murders' and Broadway's 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers,' Dies at 87 Heat Vision Will Arnett Set to Replace David Harbour in Tony Gilroy's 'Behemoth!' Drama Oscars Zurich Festival to Honor 'Late Shift' Director Petra Volpe at Oscar Screening Wagner Moura 'Awards Chatter' Pod: Wagner Moura on Brazil's 'The Secret Agent,' Importance of Memory, 'Narcos' 10 Years Later and Trump's Invasion of Venezuela Heat Vision Sadie Sink Saw Fan Theories She'd Be in Next 'Spider-Man' Movie, Then "Two Days Later, They Asked Me to Do It" Heat Vision 'Tangled' Live-Action Movie Finds Its Leads: Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim (Exclusive) Theater Marcia Rodd, Actress in 'Little Murders' and Broadway's 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers,' Dies at 87 Heat Vision Will Arnett Set to Replace David Harbour in Tony Gilroy's 'Behemoth!' Drama