The plot is a retelling of the events that led to Wu Zetian’s rise to power.
Iron Widow, written by Xiran Jay Zhao and published by New York Times best-selling author Xiran Jay Zhao, is reportedly going to be adapted for the big screen by Variety. Erik Feig’s Picturestart has obtained the rights to the adaptation and is planning a film franchise around the author’s work. The screenplay is going to be written by JC Lee, who is known for his work on Looking and How to Get Away with Murder.
The events of Iron Widow take place in the made-up world of Huaxia, which is under constant attack by extraterrestrial foes. Chrysalises, which are enormous robots capable of transforming into other forms and which can only be piloted by male and female teams, is their only and best hope for protection against alien invaders. However, this pairing is not created equally; male pilots are treated like celebrities, while female pilots are expected to serve as their concubines. Male pilots are given preferential treatment. In addition, female pilots have a higher mortality rate than male pilots due to the fact that their male partners siphon off their vitality during combat.
A recounting of the rise to power of Wu Zetian, the only female Emperor in the annals of Chinese history, who ruled from 665 to 705 A.D. is also included in the narrative. The main character is a young woman named Zetian, who is 18 years old and is a reimagining of the empress. Zetian offers herself up as a “disposable female concubine-pilot” in order to exact revenge for the death of her sister at the hands of an expert male pilot. She exacts her revenge in the most unanticipated way possible, and as a result, she emerges as a formidable opponent. In spite of this, she is currently regarded as a danger to the state, despite the possibility that she is the only hope for its future.
The plot is a mecha reimagining of the story of the Chinese Empress, and the nation of Huaxia is a futuristic reinterpretation of China in the middle ages. The novel has been compared to works such as “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and “Pacific Rim” by Guillermo del Toro, both of which were met with acclaim from both reviewers and readers of the books they were based on. Iron Widow is a book that has been translated into 14 different languages and has been on the best-seller list for a total of 41 weeks. It is particularly well-liked among young adults.
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is a hilarious, action-packed middle-grade contemporary fantasy novel that was published not too long ago by Zhao, who is also well-known for his YouTube channel. Among Lee’s previous projects are HBO’s Looking, which stars Jonathan Groff and Murray Bartlett, Apple TV’s The Morning Show, which is hosted by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, and the soon-to-be-released Bad Genius, which is directed by Julius Onah.
Picturestart’s Jessica Switch, Julia Hammer, and Feig will be in charge of production for Iron Widow, and Samie Kim Falvey will play the role of executive producer for the project. Although there is not yet a director or actor attached to the project, there is no doubt that the book has a sizable following that will lend their support to the endeavor if it is carried out effectively.
Keep an eye on this space for further information regarding the upcoming feature, okay? In the meantime, you are welcome to take a look at Zhao’s observations regarding the Chinese Empress that are provided below:
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