Death Notice (film)

Death Notice, previously known as Death Notify, is an upcoming Hong Kong action mystery thriller film directed by Herman Yau and starring Louis Koo, Francis Ng and Julian Cheung. Based on the Chinese novel of the same title by Zhou Haohui, production for the film began in April 2018.

Death Notice
Teaser film poster
Traditional	死亡通知單暗黑者：首部曲「雙雄會」
Simplified	死亡通知单暗黑者：首部曲「双雄会」
Mandarin	Sǐ Wáng Tōng Zhī Dān Àn Hēi Zhě: Shǒu Bù Qǔ 'Shuāng Xióng Huì'
Cantonese	Sei^2 Mong^4 Tung^1 Zi^1 Daan^1 Ngam^3 Hak^1 Ze^2: Sau^2 Bou^6 Keok^1 'Seong^1 Hung^4 Wui^2
Directed by	Herman Yau
Produced by	Stephen Shiu, Jr. Allen Chan Yang Xianghua Li Yansong
Written by	Stephen Shiu, Jr. Toni Shum
Based on	Death Notice by Zhou Haohui
Starring	Louis Koo Francis Ng Julian Cheung Myolie Wu Chrissie Chau
Production company	China 3D Digital Entertainment
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	US$16 million

Plot

In Hong Kong, a vigilante serial killer leaves death notices, stating when and how he will murder a victim. Even if the victim reports it to the police and receives protection, the killer can easily break through and execute them. In response, the police set up a special task force and reveals a major conspiracy hidden behind.

Cast

• Louis Koo
• Francis Ng
• Julian Cheung
• Myolie Wu
• Chrissie Chau
• Charmaine Sheh
• Simon Yam
• Ray Lui
• Philip Keung
• Danny Chan
• Timmy Hung
• Ruby Lam
• Pakho Chau
• 6-Wing
• Justin Cheung
• Babyjohn Choi
• Tony Hung
• Raymond Chiu

Production

Development

The project was first announced at the 2016 Hong Kong Filmart by China 3D Digital Entertainment as a film adaptation of the Chinese hovel, Death Notice by Zhou Haohui. The film was slated to begin production during the same year with a budget of ¥100 million (US$16 million) and Philip Yung attached as director.[1] On 6 April of the same year, it was reported that the film will star Aaron Kwok, Louis Koo and Julian Cheung.[2]

News for the project did not surface until Zhao Haohui posted on his Sina Weibo in February 2018 stating a film adaptation of his novel will begin shooting in July of the same year with Koo, Cheung, Francis Ng and Pakho Chau confirmed to star.[3] The project was later promoted at the 2018 Hong Kong Filmart on 21 March, where it was attended by director Herman Yau, cast members Koo, Ng, Cheung, Chau, Myolie Wu and Justin Cheung.[4][5][6]

Filming

Filming for Death Notice began in April 2018. On 16 April at 6:00 AM, filming of a firearm shootout scene took place in an apartment building in Sham Shui Po, where cast members Ng, Cheung, Wu and Babyjohn Choi. However, at 11:00 AM, an object at the back stairs of the building caught on fire, and the entire cast and crew, along with residents of the apartment, had to evacuate. Filming resumed at the location 13 minutes after firefighters put out the fire before ending is shoot at 6:00PM.[7][8][9]

On 2 May 2018, filming took place at the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, where the film's production start ceremony was also held with director Yau and cast members Koo, Ng, Cheung, Wu, Chrissie Chau, Timmy Hung, 6-Wing, Justin Cheung, Babyjohn Choi and Tony Hung present. There, Koo also revealed that he will be portraying four roles in the film, where he will be wearing different makeup for each of them which requires four to five hours to put on.[10][11]

References

1. "愛奇藝投資逾億 打造"暗黑者"電影版".
2. "金像班底再聯盟 翁子光擬夥郭富城開「暗黑者」".
3. "《死亡通知單》將拍電影，張智霖、吳鎮宇、古天樂、周柏豪主演".
4. "Filmart: China 3D Digital Entertainment launches three new features".
5. "胡杏兒「雖死猶生」 與張智霖大演對手戲".
6. "MYOLIE WU HAS MANY SCENES WITH JULIAN CHEUNG DESPITE CHARACTER FATE".
7. "【張建聲被綁炸彈】Chilam開工撞正縱火案 胡杏兒報平安".
8. "拍槍戰片唐樓失火 吳鎮宇張智霖急逃".
9. "【拍戲遇真火警】荷槍實彈封街拍《暗黑者》 鎮宇Chilam入屋救人 (20:10)".
10. "BEST ACTOR LOUIS KOO CHALLENGES JULIAN CHEUNG AND FRANCIS NG'S ACTING".
11. "【指定風扇侍候】新片一人分飾4角 影帝古天樂趕唔切加價".