Luke Evans to star in, executive produce Malaysian co-pro series 'Emergency'

Luke Evans is starring in and executive producing the limited series Emergency, currently in advanced development from Sympatico, a UK-Malaysia co-production label headed by Min Lim.

Emergency is the first series from the co-production label, established in 2023 by Richard Johns’ Argo Films and Double Vision.

The series is set during the Malayan Emergency of 1951 and is based on true events told from three distinct perspectives: a female Malayan Chinese guerilla fighter for the Communist Terrorists (CTs) trying to overthrow the British; a conflicted young Malay policeman who’s charged with infiltrating the Communist ranks and the British army officer he reports to, a man with his own demons but who’s seeking a dramatically different route to end the conflict. Production will take place in Malaysia.

Evans will play Brigadier ‘Mad’ Mike Calvert, the closeted homosexual and highly controversial British commander in charge of the elite ‘Malayan Scouts’ leading the military response against the CTs. He spends time understanding the rural communities that protect the enemy, but finds himself in a race against time to protect his men and win the ‘hearts and minds’ of ordinary citizens before the British deploy a new secret weapon – Agent Orange.

Malaysia-based Chi-Ren Choong pens the screenplay alongside UK's Tom Williams. Producers are Richard Johns and Min Lim.

Min Lim, co-founder of Sympatico said in a statement: "As witnessed with the recent ground-breaking Emmy success of Shogun, the world is more than ready for authentic, beautifully produced dramas out of Asia – and I’m delighted to report that we are having positive conversations with various international broadcasters and platforms that fully endorse this." 

Sympatico’s first feature film, Mojo, directed by Min Lim, was announced in August 2024.

Min Lim has brought Emergency to MIPCOM to continue conversations with potential co-production partners. She will be supported by FINAS Malaysia, the national film development corporation, and will be based at their stand.

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