Hong Kong-based Act3 and Manila-based BlackOps Studios Asia have unveiled “A Thread of Steel,” a historical action drama, as the first major co-production under a newly formalized partnership, with Qymira set to star and director Pedring Lopez attached to helm.
The deal came together at the Hong Kong FilMart, where the companies’ previous collaboration “Shadow Transit” drew strong interest from international buyers and industry partners during a market screening. That response set the stage for the deeper tie-up now underway. APL Films, handling global sales and distribution on “Shadow Transit,” has begun marketing the title to buyers worldwide.
“A Thread of Steel” will be shot at Hengdian World Studios in China. Grounded in a historical setting, the film weaves together action, drama and character-focused narrative, with both companies aiming to deliver a production of international scale built on distinctly Asian storytelling.
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“This project represents the true beginning of our long-term creative vision,” Leslie Loh of Act3 said in a statement. “‘A Thread of Steel’ is exactly the kind of cinematic storytelling we want to champion – ambitious in scale, emotionally grounded, and designed for global audiences.”
Lopez, who founded BlackOps Studios Asia and has built his reputation on visceral genre filmmaking, said the FilMart reception to “Shadow Transit” validated the direction both companies are pursuing. “With ‘A Thread of Steel,’ we’re expanding that vision into something even more cinematic – combining historical scope, action, and powerful character storytelling,” he said.
Beyond the lead title, the partnership has a broader slate of genre features in development targeting both theatrical and streaming markets internationally, with further announcements expected in the months ahead.
