The Unholy Alliance (TV series)
| The Unholy Alliance 同盟 | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Also known as | The Alliance |
| Genre |
Crime Action Thriller Martial arts |
| Created by | Jazz Boon |
| Written by | Ng Lap-kwong |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original language(s) | Cantonese |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Jazz Boon |
| Location(s) |
Hong Kong Taiwan |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company(s) | TVB |
| Distributor | TVBI |
| Release | |
| Original network | TVB Jade |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | 7 August 2017 – present |
| The Unholy Alliance | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 同盟 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cantonese Yale | Tùngmàng | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "alliance" | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
The Unholy Alliance (Chinese: 同盟; Cantonese Yale: Tùngmàng; literally "Alliance") is an action crime-thriller television drama created by Jazz Boon and TVB. Principal photography began in Hong Kong in September 2016, and continued in Taiwan in December 2016. It premiered on TVB Jade on 7 August 2017, and will run for 28 episodes.
Boon has described The Unholy Alliance as a Mission: Impossible-style[1] action thriller that features modern martial arts, including MMA, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga and gun fu.[2] It stars Nina Paw, Ruco Chan, Nancy Wu, Joel Chan, Elaine Yiu, Kwok Fung, Jimmy Au, KK Cheung, and Elena Kong. The Unholy Alliance follows a modern Hong Kong crime family, led by the matriarch Ling Hung (Paw).
Synopsis
Surfer Ko Tsz-kit, who runs a B&B in Taiwan, is ambushed by assassins. Though he is saved by the agile backpacker Yuen Ching-yan, his adoptive mother dies at the scene. To probe into the matter, Tsz-kit returns to Hong Kong alone. With his best friend Tai Wah-koon pulling a few strings for him, Tsz-kit uncovers that his adoptive mother’s death is connected to Ling Hung, an Iron Lady running multiple syndicates, who is so powerful that her decision will lead to a profound impact on the economy and livelihoods of the communities. Her adopted son Kent Ling and his girlfriend Kate Wei are her think-tanks; whereas Ching-yan is her bodyguard. However, Tsz-kit's appearance turns their relationship upside down. Meanwhile, Ling Hung's affiliates are waiting for an opportunity to wreak havoc, putting her life in imminent danger. Though Ching-yan and Tsz-kit join forces to strike back, they trigger a new wave of bloodshed that is about to engulf the whole society……[3]
Cast and characters
- Paw Hee-ching as Ling Hung (令熊),[4] a powerful businesswoman who runs several international syndicates across the continent. To protect her son from falling into the hands of her enemies, she sends him to Taiwan, where he is raised by a foster mother. Her role is likened to the Chinese female Wu Zetian[1] and Vito Corleone from The Godfather.
- Ruco Chan as Ko Tsz-kit (高子杰), Ling Hung's biological son, who was raised in Taiwan.[1] He goes on a search for his true parentage after surviving an assassination attempt.
- Nancy Wu as Yuen Ching-yan (阮清欣), Tsz-kit's bodyguard,[5] who is sent by Ling Hung to protect him. Under Ling Hung's orders, she tries to prevent him from knowing his family's secret.
- Elaine Yiu as Kate Wei Yi-yau (韋以柔), Kent's girlfriend, and a spy working for Ling Hung's crime syndicate.[1]
- Kwok Fung as Wei Lui (韋磊), Kate's father.
- Jimmy Au as Yik Fung (易風), Ling Hung's bodyguard.
- KK Cheung as Ling Lit (令烈), Ling Hung's younger brother.
- Mary Hon as Ling Hei (令熹), Ling Hung and Ling Lit's younger sister.
- Pierre Ngo as Ling Chi-sin (令智煽), Ling Lit's older son.
- Lam Tsz-sin as Ling Ka-ming (令家名), Ling Lit's younger son.
- Roxanne Tong as Kelly, Ling Hei's older daughter.
- Bella Lam as Chloe Law Ho-yee (羅皓兒), Ling Hei's younger daughter.
Confirmed cast
- Griselda Yeung
- Becky Lee
- Mary Hon
- Carlo Ng
- Man Yeung
- Mandy Lam
- Stefan Wong
- Kimmy Kwan
- Stephen Wong
- Sammi Cheung
- Lily Leung
- Elena Kong
Production and casting
Producer Jazz Boon had always wanted to do a kung fu-themed production.[6] After the commercial success of his 2014 television drama Line Walker, Boon was finally given the opportunity to conceive his own kung fu story with 2016's A Fist Within Four Walls. Boon had strong chemistry with the A Fist Within Four Walls cast. Halfway into filming the drama, he started working on The Unholy Alliance with his Four Walls cast in mind.[7]
The Unholy Alliance was officially announced in mid-August 2016. The Hong Kong media regarded it as a "modern" version of Boon's A Fist Within Four Walls, which was set in the 1960s. Four Walls leads Ruco Chan and Nancy Wu were the first cast members to be announced for The Unholy Alliance in August 2016. Paw Hee-ching, who was in negotiations with TVB since March 2016, was announced next.[2] The Unholy Alliance is Paw's first TVB production.
Lam Tsz-sin, Elaine Yiu, Joel Chan, Oscar Leung, and Bella Lam were confirmed to be part of the cast days later. Four Walls actors Grace Wong and Benjamin Yuen were invited to star, but declined the offer due to schedule clashes.[1] The action choreographer for The Unholy Alliance was announced to be Philip Kwok, who also choreographed Four Walls.
On 24 July 2017, the opening theme video was released.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "文偉鴻開時裝版《城寨》愈打愈激 搵鮑起靜變現代武則天號令世界" [Jazz Boon to produce modern version of 'Four Walls', Paw Hee-ching transformers to modern Wu Zetian]. HK01 (in Chinese). 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- 1 2 "開拍時裝版武則天 展鵬鮑起靜定欣孭飛" [TVB starts production on modern version of 'Wu Zetian', starring Ruco Chan, Paw Hee-ching, and Nancy Wu]. Oriental Daily (in Chinese). 17 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ↑ "'The Unholy Alliance' introduction". Fairchild TV. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ↑ "陳展鵬胡定欣續《城寨英雄》再度攜手拍《同盟》︰接受搏擊訓練" [Ruco Chan, Nancy Wu continues with 'The Alliance': To receive fight training]. HK01 (in Chinese). 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ↑ "蒙眼摸男星屁股 定欣一摸展鵬即估中" [Blindfolded Nancy Wu feels Ruco Chan's bottom]. Wenweipo (in Chinese). 22 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ↑ "監製文偉鴻十問十答論盡《城寨》 元秋哭崩萬人like爆﹕辛苦無白費" [Producer Jazz discusses 'Four Walls': All the hard work paid off]. Mingpao (in Chinese). 27 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ↑ "馬國明「無緣」與舊愛定欣合作" [Kenneth Ma not fated to work with former love Nancy Wu]. Oriental Daily (in Chinese). 17 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ↑ 同盟．主題曲〈一觸即發〉 8月7日晚9點半翡翠台
External links
- The Unholy Alliance Official TVB website (in Chinese)