Disney to create multiple Chinese language movies with Wudi Pictures

Chen Bolin is expected to appear in multiple films

Women wearing Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse tee shirts and caps in the Shanghai Disneyland (Rex)

As Disney continue to dominate at the box office with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the studio has announced a development deal Taiwan’s Wudi Pictures to make Chinese-language movies.

According to Variety, the pair’s partnership will last for an initial 12 months, the focus being on live-action titles suitable for release in China. Taiwanese actor Chen Bolin is expected to play a major role in multiple films for the company.

Chen appears in the upcoming Disney flick Miss Taken alongside Jelly Lin, who last year appeared in the box-office breaking film The Mermaid, now the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time.

Disney has long invested in the Chinese market, largely through consumer goods. The company launched the Shanghai Disney Resort last year, which features a Disneyland and hosted last week’s Pirates of the Caribbean world premiere.

With regards film, Disney has been remarkably more restrained, tepidly releasing only a few Chinese language films.

However, their Avengers franchise has made multi-millions in the country, Age of Ultron currently being the 12th highest-grossing film in China. Zootopia marks their best production, holding the 10th spot.

Meanwhile, The Mouse has found itself being blackmailed, a group of hackers demanding payment for a pirated version of Pirates of the Caribbean 5.