Netflix hopes Chinese TV series ‘The Rise of Phoenixes’ takes off globally

Ni Ni, as Feng Zhiwei, and Chen Kun as Ning Yi in a scene from the new 70-part Chinese television drama ‘The Rise of Phoenixes, which will begin on Netflix on September 14.

The new Chinese television series, The Rise of Phoenixes, which was filmed in Mandarin, will be released in more than a dozen languages to Netflix users around the world on September 14.

Thanks to the success of another 2018 historical drama, Story of Yanxi Palace, released around the world by the Chinese streaming service iQiyi, Netflix has high hopes for its new Chinese period drama.

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Actress Ni Ni as Feng Zhiwei (left) who hides her identity by dressing as a man, in a scene from ‘The Rise of the Phoenixes’

Based on the novel Huang Quan (which loosely translates as “Power of the Phoenix”) by Tianxia Guiyan, the 2018 drama stars Chen Kun as Ning Yi, the shrewd, ambitious and calculating sixth prince of the Tiansheng Kingdom.

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Ni Ni plays the role of Feng Zhiwei, the undervalued daughter of the Qiu family – in reality the last princess of the fallen Cheng dynasty – who hides her true identity by dressing as a man to survive in the male-dominated society.

Chen Kun (right) as Prince Ning Yi in a scene from the Chinese television series ‘The Rise of the Phoenixes’.

Like many Chinese dramas, The Rise of Phoenixes tells a story focused on power, desire, lust and love between people from different kingdoms in ancient China, including some who are determined to claim the position of “The Great Phoenix”.

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Actresses Ou Wang (left) as the female general Hua Qiong and Ni Ni as Feng Zhiwei in a scene from the television series ‘The Rise of the Phoenixes’.

This series marks not only the television debut of Ni, 30, who has enjoyed success in major films, but also the highly anticipated return to the small screen of Chen, 42, after a decade away pursing a film career.

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The series also features other big names from the Mandarin-language film and television industries including directors Shen Yan and Liu Haibo, who both worked on the 2016 comedy-drama television series, Chinese Style Relationship, and William Chang known for his work as artistic director and costume designer on the Wong Kar-wai films The Grandmaster, In the Mood for Love and Ashes of Time.

Chen Kun as Prince Ning Yi with his guards in a scene from ‘The Rise of the Phoenixes’

The Rise of Phoenixes is a 70-episode series, which has been co-produced by Netflix along with Croton Media (China Syndication), K. Pictures, Hao Mai Culture, iQiyi, COL Group and New Film Association.

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