Legendary and Huayi Brothers Media Corp. said in a statement late Sunday that they’re selling a 50 percent stake in the venture, Legendary East, to Hong Kong construction company Paul Y. Engineering.
Legendary Entertainment has produced hits including “The Dark Knight,” “Inception” and the two “Hangover” movies.
The Hong Kong-based joint venture, which was announced in June, plans to make one or two “major, event-style films” a year for worldwide audiences starting in 2013.
The partnership allows Legendary Entertainment to bypass Chinese import restrictions that effectively limit the country to about 20 foreign blockbusters a year.
“With China’s rapid economic growth and rich cultural background, this is a filmmaking marketplace on the rise,” Legendary Entertainment Chairman Thomas Tull said a statement.
Recent releases by the Beijing-based Huayi Brothers include the hit Feng Xiaogang disaster epic “Aftershock,” the kung fu drama “Shaolin” and the Tsui Hark fantasy epic “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.” Its films accounted for 17 percent of China’s box office in 2010.
Chinese box office takings surged 64 percent to $1.5 billion in 2010.
Paul Y. Engineering will fund its purchase by selling new shares to a private equity firm and other big investors and it will own the biggest stake. Legendary Entertainment and Legendary East’s management will own 40 percent while Huayi Brothers will own the remaining 10 percent.
