The Unholy Alliance (TV series)

The Unholy Alliance (Chinese: 同盟; Jyutping: tung4 mang4; literally "Alliance") is an upcoming action crime-thriller television drama created by Jazz Boon and TVB. It began principal photography in September 2016, and is slated for a summer or fall 2017 release on TVB Jade.

Boon has described The Unholy Alliance as a Mission: Impossible-style^[1] action thriller that features modern martial arts, such as MMA, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Krav Maga and gun fu.^[2] The story chronicles a modern Hong Kong crime family, led by the matriarch Ling Hung (Paw Hee-ching).

Confirmed cast

• Paw Hee-ching as Ling Hung (令熊; Ling Hung),^[3] the leader of a large international crime syndicate. Her role is likened to the Chinese female emperor Wu Zetian^[1] and Vito Corleone from The Godfather.
• Ruco Chan as Ko Chi-kit (高子傑; Gou Zigit), Ling Hung's birth son, who was raised in Taiwan^[1]
• Nancy Wu as Yuen Tsing-yan (阮清欣; Jyun Cingjan), Chi-kit's bodyguard and protector^[4]
• Joel Chan as Kent Ling Tsin-yau (令千佑; Ling Cinjau), Ling Hung's adopted son^[1]
• Elaine Yiu as Kate Wai Yi-yau (韋以柔; Wai Jijau), a spy working for the crime syndicate^[1]
• Jimmy Au as Yik Fung (易風; Jik Fung)
• Kwok Fung as Wai Lui (韋磊; Wai Leoi), Kate's father
• KK Cheung as Ling Lit (令烈; Ling Lit)
• Lam Tsz-sin as Ling Ka-ming (令家名; Ling Gaaming), Ling Lit's third son
• Bella Lam as Chloe Law Ho-yee (羅皓兒; Lo Houji)
• Ngo Ka-nin as Ling Lit's eldest son
• Griselda Yeung
• Becky Lee
• Mary Hon
• Carlo Ng
• Man Yeung
• Mandy Lam
• Stefan Wong
• Kimmy Kwan
• Stephen Wong
• Oscar Leung
• Sammi Cheung
• Lily Leung

Production and casting

Producer Jazz Boon had always wanted to do a kung fu-themed production.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.

References