Young actress Nguyen Hoang Kieu Trinh performs in Lý Chiêu Hoàng (Empress), a web drama series featuring Empress regnant Lý Chiêu Hoàng, the last and only sovereign of the Ly Dynasty. The film project was launched by producer Vietnam Centre in HCM City last week. — Photo courtesy of the producer

The web drama series, Lý Chiêu Hoàng (Empress), tells stories about Hoang, who ruled the kingdom of Dai Viet as queen regnant from 1924 to 1925. Later, she was forced to deliver the throne to her husband, Tran Canh, which ended the Ly Dynastry. 

It will also highlight the themes of patriotism, bravery and honesty as well as love and betrayal.   

The first character sketches of Hoang and her husband Canh, later King Tran Thai Tong, the first king of Tran Dynastry who ruled Dai Viet for 33 years (1926-58), have been announced by the film’s producer, Vietnam Centre.  

Character sketches of Hoang’s father, King Ly Hue Tong, the eighth king of the Ly Dynasty, have also been introduced. 

The producer invited Korean scriptwriter Paek Seong Og to join the project. Paek will work with Vietnamese writers to complete the screenplay. 

Young actors Nguyen Hoang Kieu Trinh and Nguyen Phuc Quy Quang will play the leading roles.  

“I think Vietnamese history is an endless source of passion for filmmakers. I hope the web drama Lý Chiêu Hoàng will bring a new taste of fantasy-history film to audiences,” said Tran Tuat Kiet, a second-year student at the HCM City University of Culture.

In March, a film project about the early Le Dynasty and Ly Dynasty was launched. The fantasy film, Huyết Rồng (Blood Dragon) by young director Huynh Tuan Anh will include two chapters featuring the emperors and heroes of the two dynasties. 

Character sketches for Huyết Rồng (Blood Dragon), a fantasy film about the emperors and heroes of the early Le and Ly dynasties by young director Huynh Tuan Anh of HCM City. The film is expected to be released in December. — Photo courtesy of the producer

General Le Hoan, who served the Dinh Dynasty in 979, and King Ly Thai To, the first king of the Ly Dynasty from 1010 to 1028, will be featured. 

Director Anh invited dozens of historians and cultural researchers, including historian Nguyen Khac Thuan and Professor Le Van Lan, to complete the screenplay. 

“Hundreds of costumes, half of them handmade, will be used in Huyết Rồng,” said director Anh, who enjoys working with film projects about Vietnamese history. 

The producer of the drama series Lý Chiêu Hoàng is working with famous actors on casting. 

Filming is expected to begin in July.  

VNS 

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