Director Agan
Director Agan recently announced that his new film *Don Quixote*, with an investment of 70 million yuan, will soon begin filming. The film claims to be adapted from the Spanish classic *Don Quixote*, described as "the first trade blockbuster adaptation of a world literary masterpiece." However, its story and characters, which are said to have undergone a "complete Chinese soft landing," have been questioned and considered by some as merely "a marketing gimmick."
In a recent interview, Agan responded to these doubts, stating that the medieval knights in *Don Quixote* can be directly compared to Tang Dynasty wanderers in China. This similarity, he argues, makes a "Chinese adaptation" possible.
Agan explained that the main roles and storyline of *Tang Ji Ke De* (the Chinese title for the film) are derived from the novel *Don Quixote*. It retains the original characters, central spirit, and status as a four-hundred-year-old world classic. For instance, the protagonist and his servant remain unchanged; however, other characters in the movie undergo significant changes. The core story still revolves around the protagonist, a skinny horse, a long spear, and a servant adventuring through the world.
Facing skepticism about using world classics as mere gimmicks, Agan emphasized that *Tang Ji Ke De* is not a tribute but an adaptation, bringing the original work to the big screen in China. Many elements from the original are preserved in the adaptation.
However, *Don Quixote* depicts the entire Spanish society, including historical sexual themes, and has a unique European medieval knight background, which is relatively alien to Chinese audiences.
Agan acknowledged the challenge of adapting a story set in Europe to a Chinese context. Therefore, they gathered a team of screenwriters to research and create an abstract social backdrop based on the Tang Dynasty. "The overall tone reflects a Tang Dynasty aesthetic," Agan noted. Most scenes will be filmed indoors with green screens and substantial investment in 3D special effects to recreate the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. He believes there are many similarities between the Tang Dynasty in China and the European Middle Ages, as they belong to the same historical period.
Regarding European medieval knights and chivalry, Agan expressed that despite differences, they sought bridges for transformation. He identified surprising similarities between European knights and Chinese martial artists, believing this would help audiences understand the film. "Readers familiar with the original know *Don Quixote* is a knight novel. Readers who have read both knight novels and wuxia novels will notice many similarities. For example, both knights and wuxia possess superhuman abilities or high martial arts skills, and both fight for justice. They also prefer staying at inns, sharing similar character traits and settings. Thus, although originating from different cultures, readers and viewers won't find it difficult to understand," Agan explained. He also mentioned that the earliest Chinese translation of *Don Quixote* was titled *Magic Swordsman Chronicles*, which might lead many to mistakenly believe it's a wuxia novel just from the title.
In terms of casting, Agan revealed that the full cast will only be unveiled at the launch event. He hinted that nearly ten top-tier Chinese-speaking stars will join the project, with selection criteria emphasizing "spiritual resemblance." "The appearances of the protagonist and his servant are already well-established in people's minds. Chinese actors may not look exactly like them physically, but they can resemble them spiritually. We'll try our best to make the physical appearance as close as possible to the original prototypes," Agan concluded.