China gets own version of ‘Triumph in the Skies’
HONG KONG: Mainland Chinese viewers will soon get to see a Chinese version of TVB’s popular series ‘Triumph in the Skies’.
Hong Kong-based Media Asia will produce the drama, titled Zhuangzhi Gaofei (roughly translates to ‘Flying Ambitions’).
Media Asia is the same studio that brought critically-acclaimed films like ‘Infernal Affairs’ and ‘Love in the Buff’.
Much like TVB’s own television series ‘Triumph in the Skies’, which first arrived to television screens in 2003 and its sequel in 2014, ‘Flying Ambitions’ will be about a team of young, hopeful pilot cadets who dream of soaring the skies.
The 40-episode drama is developed by the same team that created ‘Triumph in the Skies’, which includes producer Tommy Leung and scriptwriter Au Koonying.
‘Flying Ambitions’ will be shooting in countries such as France, Spain, and Macau. Principal photography is expected to begin on Aug 15, and is slated to last four months.
According to Hong Kong reports, the male lead and female lead will be played by ‘Running Man’ China star Ryan Zheng Kai and ‘Swordsman’ star Joe Chen, respectively. Ryan plays a “senior first officer who is extremely stringent about his career”. His quiet and composed personality is reminiscent of ‘Triumph in the Skies’ main lead Captain Samuel “Sam” Tong, portrayed by Francis Ng.
Joe, on the other hand, plays a simple-minded flight attendant who had no ambitions, but her encounter with a friend inspires her to earn a licence in aviation. Facing new challenges in her life, Joe learns how to find the will to fight on. Her character is similar to Holiday “Holly” Ho, portrayed by Fala Chen in 2014’s ‘Triumph in the Skies II’.