Biopic promises to be a smash hit
World premiere expected to draw 20,000 people and make it into record books
World premiere on the life of badminton icon Lee Chong Wei is expected to draw a record crowd of 20,000.
KUALA LUMPUR: Motivated – that’s how one will feel after watching the biopic Lee Chong Wei: Rise of the Legend.
And Josiah Chieng, the producer of the movie, should know best.
“He’s gone through tough times. In the trailer, there is a scene that shows a mother carrying her baby. I believe people will be in for a surprise when they find out what happens in that scene,” Chieng told a press conference to announce the world premiere of the movie on March 9 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Doors will open at 4pm with a myriad of activities to follow.
Highlights include a red-carpet walk-in, chat session with Datuk Lee Chong Wei, scenes on the making of the movie and lucky draw before the movie screening at 8.45pm.
The premiere of the biopic will be a special director’s cut which runs for 133 minutes. The official movie runs for about 110 minutes.
Ticket holders stand to win limited edition prizes such as 100 units of Yonex Lee Chong Wei badminton racquets, five Samsung smartphones and 30 film books.
The extended version of the biopic will only be screened during the premiere, said Sky Events Management Sdn Bhd director Kenny Wong.
“The special director’s cut will not be shown in cinemas later,’’ he said, adding that the general release of the movie was fixed for March 15.
Wong said members of the victorious Malaysian Thomas Cup 1992 team would be invited to attend the premiere, as the storyline was also based on how Chong Wei was inspired by that defining moment.
Singer and Youtuber Priscilla Abby and singer-actress Nabila Razali will sing the movie soundtrack titled Cahaya Juara. They will perform live at the premiere.
Also present at the press conference were movie producer Ben Lee, Datuk Rosyam Nor who plays Datuk Misbun Sidek (Chong Wei’s coach), Tosh Chan (adult Chong Wei), Jake Eng (young Chong Wei), Ashley Hua as Datin Wong Mew Choo (Chong Wei’s wife) and Agnes Lim (Chong Wei’s sister).
The world premiere is expected to draw a crowd of 20,000 and is set to enter the Malaysia Book of Records and Asia Book of Records as the largest movie screening.
The film will be shown on a special-built giant 40m x 17m LED screen.
A total of 10,000 tickets have been sold, with the RM168 Gold category fully sold out. The remaining tickets are for the RM88 (world), RM108 (bronze) and RM128 (silver) categories which can be purchased at www. leechongweimovie.com or at the Axiata Arena Box Office in Bukit Jalil from 10am to 6pm (closed on Feb 16, 17 and 18).
Each ticket comes with one Lee Chong Wei: Rise Of The Legend movie T-shirt, one ticket to watch the shorter version of Lee Chong Wei: Rise Of The Legend at GSC, one pre-autographed event poster and one movie bag.