Dramatic turnaround

"China's film and television markets are expanding quickly. Before the screening, some foreign buyers approached us to ask about securing the overseas distribution rights," recalls Zhang, who adds that they plan to launch the series in South Korea and Japan.

Unlike many palace-themed dramas, a popular genre revolving around intrigue and scheming in the royal court, overseas audiences tend to find Chinese fantasy tales easier to identify with.

"They're quite similar to superhero stories like Spider-Man. The protagonists were once ordinary people, but they turn into extraordinary heroes by chance. These kinds of stories don't require audiences to have any specific knowledge about Chinese history," explains Zhang.

The translators who created the English subtitles for the series also worked hard to make sure the concepts behind the martial arts clans less confusing to Western audiences, adds Zhang.

With its big budget, the series involves a variety of special effects sequences and techniques to recreate the spectacles and magical creatures depicted in the novel.

Another highlight of the series is the directorship of Zhang Li, who is known as one of China's top TV drama directors thanks to hits like For the Sake of the Republic of China, and Ming Dynasty in 1566.

Martial Universe marks the 61-year-old director's shift from serious historical-themed dramas to fantasy stories.

Speaking about the decision to leave his comfort zone, Zhang Li says he wanted to convey the message that he's always willing to take on fresh challenges.

"Fantasy dramas require a high degree imaginative thinking, something lacking for most Chinese content makers," he says.

"When we talk about fantasy stories, domestic audiences are quick to compare homegrown titles with slick international productions like Marvel's superhero films," says the director.

"But to be honest, we have yet to develop a mature procedure and the right technology to produce comparable epics-but it's a goal we can certainly strive for," he adds.

Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn