Hugh Jackman

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Hugh Jackman recently visited Hong Kong during their Mid-Autumn Festival to promote his latest film, Pan. During his stay, Jackman visited one of the oldest neighbourhoods, Tai Hang, and experienced the most authentic cultural heritage with around 100 years of history – Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Being the first international star participating in this festivity, Jackman was honored with a leading role of the parade by holding the Fire Dragon pearl.

Check out images and video below from the event.

“Pan” has an October 9, 2015 release directed by Joe Wright also starring Levi Miller, Rooney Mara, Garrett Hedlund, Amanda Seyfried, Adeel Akhtar, Taejoo Na, Nonso Anozie, Kathy Burke, Kurt Egyiawan, Lewis MacDougall and Jack Charles. 

About Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance 
In the 19th century, the people of Tai Hang began performing a dragon dance to stop a run of bad luck afflicting their village. More than a century later, their village has been developed into a part of the cosmopolitan. But the dragon keeps on dancing. It has even danced its way onto China’s third national list of intangible cultural heritage.

All this started a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, sometime around 100 years ago. First a typhoon slammed into the fishing and farming community of Tai Hang. This was followed by a plague, and then when a python ate the villagers’ livestock, they said enough was enough. A soothsayer decreed the only way to stop the chaos was to stage a fire dance for three days and nights during the upcoming festival. The villagers made a huge dragon from straw and covered it with incense sticks, which they then lit. Accompanied by drummers and erupting firecrackers, they did what they were told and danced for three days and three nights – and the plague disappeared.

About Mid Autumn Festival 
As the round shape symbolizes unity in the Chinese culture, the full moon stirs these ancient sentiments, which are embodied in the way the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated since the early Tang dynasty (618 – 907). In the past, on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month every year, families would get together to make offerings of osmanthus-flavoured wine, spherical fruits such as pears, grapes, pomegranates and of course mooncakes to the heavens, to express gratitude for a bumper harvest as well as enjoy a reunion with relatives who live far away. To many, this is considered to be one of the most important festivals of the year. Highly-urbanised Hong Kong still celebrates this holiday, and does so in style and with its characteristic penchant for fusing tradition with innovation.

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Gearing up for the release of the big screen, family adventure “Pan,” Warner Bros. Pictures has been bringing the film’s magical world to life with exciting and unique events across the globe.  Global superstar Hugh Jackman, who plays the fearsome pirate Blackbeard, along with Levi Miller, who brings the iconic title character of Peter Pan to life, and acclaimed director Joe Wright will celebrate and experience many of these exciting versions of Neverland in person with fans, and will be joined at several stops by Rooney Mara, who plays Tiger Lily, and Garrett Hedlund—Hook before the hook.  This worldwide celebration will be connected via social media as fans everywhere will be invited to check-in virtually at each unique “Neverland” location via Facebook and Instagram, and post their experiences using #PanMovie.

The whirlwind tour began on September 2 in Australia, the home country of both Jackman and Miller, where “Pan” will make its global debut in theatres on September 24.  Melbourne students from five local public schools saw advance footage from the film, followed by a surprise Q&A with Jackman.  

In London, Leicester Square is being transformed into the film’s vividly imagined Neverland, with the immersive take-over of its Gardens being opened to ticketed families for free on Saturday, September 19.  Under canopies of colorful tents, guests can discover Blackbeard’s Pirate Training Tent, Pan’s Warrior Tent, Tiger Lily’s Kingdom and watch performances on the Jolly Roger Stage.  On Sunday, September 20, Leicester Square will also host the gala worldwide premiere of “Pan,” at the Empire Cinema and the Odeon Leicester Square.  In addition to Jackman, Miller and Wright, stars Rooney Mara and Garrett Hedlund will join the UK celebration.  

In Hong Kong, from September 18 to October 11, the city’s Times Square Mall will host a massive installation entitled “Every Legend Has a Beginning.”  Featuring a village inspired by Tiger Lily’s in the film, plus a Jolly Roger ship modeled after the one in Blackbeard’s fleet, the Mall will offer a multi-media experience for fans with a variety of performances and imagery from the film and fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet Jackman on Monday, September 28. On the same day, Jackman will also become the first international star ever to participate in the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival celebration in Hong Kong, the Fire Dragon Festival.   As a special honor, Jackman will be asked to hold the Fire Dragon’s pearl in the parade. 

On October 1, Jackman, Miller and Wright will fly to Tokyo for the film’s premiere event, streamed live online from the Roppongi Hills Area at the Keyakizaka Complex, which will be transformed from stem to stern in the style of Neverland.  The stars will be joined there by major Japanese musical artist Seiko Matsuda, before heading onto the TOHO Cinemas to view the film, which opens across Japan on October 31.  

New York City hosts the gala U.S. premiere on Sunday, October 4, ahead of the film’s October 9 nationwide debut.  Cast and filmmakers including Jackman, Miller, Mara, Hedlund and Wright will be joined by a host of other celebrities at the legendary Ziegfeld Theater.   

In Mexico City on Tuesday October 6, the trio of Jackman, Miller and Wright will attend the film’s Latin American premiere at the all-new Toreo Parque Central’s vast Cinepolis Complex.  With designs inspired by the Neverland natives’ village, Mermaid Lagoon and the Jolly Roger itself, a special live drum performance will be part of one of the most spectacular premiere events ever hosted in the country.  All of these iconic Neverland elements will remain at Toreo Parque Central until October 18, giving families the opportunity to visit this exhibition for 12 extra days.  

As Neverland sweeps the globe, a dazzling selection of the film’s costumes will simultaneously be debuting in exhibits throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S.  Costume designer Jacqueline Durran’s creations for Jackman’s Blackbeard, Miller’s Peter, Hedlund’s Hook and Mara’s Tiger Lily will be showcased at or around the events in Hong Kong, at Times Square Mall; London; New York City; Madrid; and Mexico City.  Added stops include Prague, Dubai, Athens and more, with exact locations and dates to be announced. 

There will also be mall installations including Brazil, Italy, the UAE and beyond, plus an airship with the Jolly Roger hitting the skies above Germany at events in Hamburg and Frankfurt, plus many more “Pan” themed activities around the world, bringing fans closer to Neverland than ever before. 

From director Joe Wright comes “Pan,” a live-action feature presenting a wholly original adventure about the beginnings of the beloved characters created by J.M. Barrie.  Wright directs “Pan” from a screenplay written by Jason Fuchs.  Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Oscar nominee Paul Webster (“Atonement”) are producing, with Tim Lewis serving as executive producer.

The film stars Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman (“Les Misérables”) as Blackbeard; Garrett Hedlund as James Hook; Oscar nominee Rooney Mara (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) as Tiger Lily; newcomer Levi Miller as Peter; and Amanda Seyfried as Mary.

Rounding out the cast are Adeel Akhtar as Smee; Taejoo Na as Kwahu; Nonso Anozie as Bishop; Kathy Burke as Mother Barnabas; Kurt Egyiawan as Murray; Lewis MacDougall as Nibs; and Jack Charles as The Chief.

Wright’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated directors of photography Seamus McGarvey (“Anna Karenina,” “Atonement”) and John Mathieson (“The Phantom of the Opera,” “Gladiator”); Oscar-nominated production designer Aline Bonetto (“A Very Long Engagement,” “Amelie”); editors Paul Tothill and William Hoy; Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“Anna Karenina”); and makeup and hair designer Ivana Primorac.  The music is by Oscar-nominated composer John Powell (“How to Train Your Dragon”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, in association with RatPac-Dune Entertainment, a Berlanti Production, a Joe Wright film, “Pan.”  Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, it is set for a worldwide release in 2D and 3D.

Pan trailer: