China’s Huace Group showcased its lavish historical drama, "Swords Into Plowshares", during last week’s ATF, confirming Thailand’s TrueVisions Now as its first overseas client and saying the show would upload to mainland Chinese streaming platforms, including iQiyi, Tencent Video and Mango TV, in the coming weeks. 

Exact broadcast dates have not been confirmed; True is expected to begin airing the series from January 2026. 

Directed by Yang Lei, who previously directed the Chinese series adaptation of 3 Body and large-scale action adventure, 2017’s "Legend of Naga Pearls", the 50-episode show stars Bai Yu and Zhou Yutong.

The series is set in the 10th Century AD, when China was ruled by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The story is led by the young men who endure war and loss, but who eventually unite the Chinese nation and establish the Song Dynasty. The overriding themes are brotherhood, romance and personalities that are tested by troubling times.

Currently in post production, the show was in preparation for nearly 10 years and started three months of shooting from October 2024. 
“In production, we restored history with archaeological precision, building and modifying over 550 sets,” said Huace founder Zhao Yifang during the showcase. 

“We meticulously crafted over 8,000 costumes, with prop tolerances as precise as 0.1mm, and employed 8K ultra-high-definition technology throughout. All this was solely to bring the costumes, attire, rituals and music of a thousand years ago to vivid life on screen — presenting the pure essence of Chinese aesthetic charm while aligning with the tastes of global audiences,” he added.

Cecilia Zhou, GM of Huace Global said the show was set to play at upcoming international festivals in France and Korea and via 30 overseas broadcasters or platforms. Other than TrueVisions and Chinese streamers, partners have not been disclosed. Festivals have also not been confirmed. 

Anne Chan and Ronan Wong’s AR Asia Productions is handling licensing in Southeast Asia. 

Huace is among China’s most established film and TV studios and claims to have produced some 180,000 hours of content that has aired in 200 countries and regions worldwide. Past titles include Eternal Love, National Beauty and Fragrance and Go Ahead.  

“Our mission remains unchanged: to tell universal human emotions and themes from a Chinese perspective, and to present aesthetics understood by the world through Eastern artistry,” said Zhao.

The Singapore presentation of a teaser, key cast and a symbolic signing of the licensing deal with TrueVisons, was accompanied by a flotilla of mainland Chinese officials. These included Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming, Counsellor Qin Wen and two officials from the National Radio and Television Authority Li Zhuang and Feng Shengyong. – by Patrick Frater