The production was set to kickstart in July 2021 but then was delayed due to the pandemic until now. Director Nguyen Quang Dung also revealed more details about the project.Īs quoted on VTC News, the production team acquired the rights to adapt the book five years ago. On 4 January 2022, a casting call video was uploaded on the official Facebook page of the movie. As both the original book and the TV mini-series were popular, the announcement of the new adaptation has been met with both anticipation and doubt. This is the next big project to be harnessed by Nguyễn Quang Dũng – a Vietnamese director famous for his blockbusters and funky personality.

This year, the Vietnamese classic children’s novel set in southern Vietnam – Đấ t Rừng Phương Nam (Southern Land and Forests) – is being made for the big screen 25 years after it became a classic mini-series. Nguyễn Vinh Sơn, who directed the 1997 series, will serve as a production consultant.Classic Vietnamese children’s novel gets a new adaptation

As the book centralizes on surviving in the Mekong Delta during wartime, the roles are physically demanding, involving climbing trees, catching snakes, hunting crocodiles, and swimming.Ĭomposer Đức Trí will handle Đất Rừng Phương Nam’s music, while Diệp Thế Vinh is the cinematographer. A casting call to find young actors anchoring the main roles has been launched, comprising online and in-person auditions, and a workshop period for candidates to train for the role. Production will commence this year for an estimated premiere in later quarters. Nguyễn Vinh Sơn (left) and Nguyễn Quang Dũng (right). According to him, his team got the rights to adapt the novel for the big screen five years ago, but couldn’t proceed at the time as he didn’t believe the financial resources and technical know-how were enough to actualize his vision.

Nonetheless, the drama was a critical success and popular hit thanks to outstanding performances from the cast, especially the young actors.ĭũng’s new version is expected to be a more faithful reflection of the text. Sơn shared that, due to resource constraints at the time, his version had to omit “Rừng” (jungle) from the adaptation and title as they could not do the jungle scenes justice. The book had its first and most notable adaptation in 1997 in an 11-episode miniseries titled Đất Phương Nam, directed by Nguyễn Vinh Sơn. The theme song of the original Đất Phương Nam from 1997.

Đất Rừng Phương Nam by Đoàn Giỏi