Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming announced last Wednesday (Oct. 12) that his company Estar Media has acquired the copyright of Tsukasa Hojo's popular book series City Hunter and he will star the upcoming film.

The live-action film adaptation has already received a green light in China, and China's City Hunter could hit theaters as early as December 2018, CRI English reported.

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The project will see Huang in the lead role of Ryo Saeba, which was previously played by Lee Min Ho in its Korean adaptation, the iTech Post noted. Meanwhile, Stanley Tong, which is known for working with Jackie Chan in the 1990s such as Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story series, will reportedly direct the film.

Huang calls himself a big fan of City Hunter books. He recalled that when he was still young he spent all of his allowance on manga.

"I save up enough and bought the entire set of City Hunter. I still have them right now."

Meanwhile, Jayne Stars reported that Huang is still the confirmed cast of the series. Tong said they will try to cast the perfect female, preferably a manga fan as well.

The City Hunter book series was published between 1985 and 1991, and was among the best-selling works in Japan. It has been adapted to TV animations, video games, and movies.

Similar to the James Bond series, the City Hunter revolves around crime and love affairs. This is not the first live action of the comic as Japan and South Korean also have adapted City Hunter both into film and TV series.

TagsHuang Xiaoming, City Hunter, Stanley Tong, Japanese manga