The White Storm 2: Drug Lords

The White Storm 2: Drug Lords
Official film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese掃毒2天地對決
Simplified Chinese扫毒2天地对决
Literal meaningSweep Away the Poison 2: Final Contest for Heaven and Earth
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSǎo Dú Èr: Tiāndì Duìjué
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingSou3 Deok6 Ji6 Tin1 Dei6 Deoi3 Kyut3
Directed byHerman Yau
Written byHerman Yau
Erica Li
Eric Lee
Produced byAndy Lau
Alvin Lam
Esther Koo
Wong Chun-kei
Shirley Yeung
Chan Wai-keung
StarringAndy Lau
Louis Koo
Michael Miu
Karena Lam
CinematographyJoe Chan
Edited byAzrael Chung
Music byMak Chun Hung
Production
companies
Distributed byUniverse Films Distribution (Hong Kong, Worldwide)
Gala Film Distribution (Hong Kong)
Release dates
  • 5 July 2019 (2019-07-05) (China)
  • 16 July 2019 (2019-07-16) (Hong Kong)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
BudgetUS$25 million
Box officeUS$200 million[1]

The White Storm 2: Drug Lords is a 2019 Hong Kong action film directed by Herman Yau, produced by and starring Andy Lau. The film is a thematic sequel in-title-only to the 2013 film The White Storm with a new storyline and stars returning cast member Louis Koo in a different role.[2][3]

The film was first announced on 15 March 2018.[4] Production for The White Storm 2: Drug Lords began on 23 June 2018,[5][6] and wrapped up on 12 September 2018.[7] The film was theatrically released on 5 July 2019, in China, on 12 July 2019, in Taiwan, and on 16 July 2019, in Hong Kong.[8][9][10] The film was also selected to be the closing film for 18th New York Asian Film Festival on 14 July 2019.[11][12] It was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[13]

The White Storm 2: Drug Lords was a major commercial success, grossing a total of US$200 million worldwide against a budget of US$25 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who generally praised the performances of Lau and Koo and the film's action choreography but noted shortcomings in its script and character development.

A thematic sequel to the film, The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell began production in June 2021, with Yau returning to direct, Koo returning to star alongside Sean Lau, who makes a return from the first film, and new cast member Aaron Kwok.[14] The sequel was released on 28 July 2023.[15]

  1. ^ "劉德華涉嫌『抄襲』？！導演對《掃毒2》求償4.3億！還扯出《我的少女時代》？法院證實已『立案』！" (in Chinese). Yahoo! News. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ "【連串計劃】寰宇宣佈開拍《掃毒2》《拆彈2》劉德華新姿態登場". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 16 March 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. ^ ""Shock Wave" and "The White Storm" Sequels". 19 March 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. ^ "HK actor Andy Lau back in top form". Asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018.
  5. ^ "【《掃毒2》開鏡】華仔演金融大亨火拼毒販古仔". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. ^ ""The White Storm 2" Stars Andy Lau and Louis Koo". 25 June 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Andy went to support last day shooting of White Storm 2". 13 September 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. ^ Shackleton, Liz (18 March 2018). "Filmart: Universe whips up sequels to 'The White Storm', 'Shock Wave' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference teaser was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "《掃毒2天地對決 The White Storm 2 Drug Lord》- 雙雄對峙預告". YouTube. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. ^ "New York Asian Film Festival". www.nyaff.org. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  12. ^ "《掃毒2》獲選紐約亞洲電影節閉幕電影 劉德華古天樂兩大影帝感高興 - 香港經濟日報 - TOPick - 娛樂" (in Chinese). 5 July 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  13. ^ Chu, Karen (23 September 2019). "Oscars: Hong Kong Selects 'The White Storm 2' for International Feature Film Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference strait was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "AMTD Digital's New Movie "The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell" Officially Scheduled for Release to Public in July 2023". March 2023.