French production company Master Movies has acquired the French remake rights for the 2023 Chinese comedy feature “Johnny Keep Walking!” The deal was struck with Chinese film company Tiger Pictures Entertainment and marks one of the rare instances of a mainland Chinese film getting a foreign language remake. Described as a pointed satire on corporate bureaucracy and office politics, the original film was directed by Dong Runian, with a screenplay by Dong and Ying Luojia, and starred journeyman comedian Da Peng. With a Chinese title that literally means “The Annual Company Party Can’t Be Stopped,” the film follows a simple technician at a rural factory who is mistakenly promoted to a high-level managerial position at corporate headquarters due to a series of clerical errors and a bribery scheme gone wrong. Popular on Variety The film was a sleeper hit in mainland China, grossing RMB1.292 billion ($186 million) at the box office. Internationally, the film has grossed $995,000 from theatrical releases in 11 territories. Tiger Pictures handled the international distribution for the film. “‘Johnny Keep Walking!’ represents a notable milestone for the Chinese film industry, as one of the few Chinese films to be remade for Western audiences, highlighting the growing international reach of Chinese storytelling,” said Owen Young, representative of Tiger Pictures Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to have acquired the French adaptation rights to ‘Johnny Keep Walking!,’ whose sharp and accurate take on corporate life struck us as both hilarious and insightful,” said Lola and Marco Pacchioni, directors of Master Movies, in a statement. “It is an obvious fit with Master Movies’ editorial line-up, which champions distinctive, character-driven stories with a precise and contemporary look on society, and we look forward to bringing it to French audiences.” The original’s themes of toxic corporate environments and bureaucratic structures makes it well-suited for cross-cultural adaptation, according to its Chinese producers. Tiger Pictures described the deal as part of their corporate transition from its core business of international distribution of Chinese films, towards a broader strategy of international IP management and development.