Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Film poster
Traditional	HK狄仁傑之通天帝國 TW通天神探狄仁傑
Simplified	狄仁杰之通天帝国
Mandarin	Dí Rénjié Zhī Tōngtiān Dìguó
Cantonese	Dik6 Jan4 Git6 Zi1 Tung1 Tin1 Dai3 Gwok3
Directed by	Tsui Hark
Produced by	Tsui Hark Nansun Shi Peggy Lee
Screenplay by	Chen Kuofu
Based on	Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame by Lin Qianyu
Starring	Andy Lau Carina Lau Li Bingbing Tony Leung Ka-fai Deng Chao
Music by	Peter Kam
Cinematography	Parkie Chan Chan Chi-ying
Edited by	Yau Chi-wai
Production company	Huayi Brothers Film Workshop
Distributed by	Huayi Brothers Emperor Motion Pictures
Release date	29 September 2010 (2010-09-29) (China) 30 September 2010 (2010-09-30) (Hong Kong)
Running time	122 minutes
Country	China Hong Kong
Language	Mandarin
Budget	US$20 million
Box office	US$51.7 million

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (Di renjie: Tong tian di guo) is a 2010 Chinese-Hong Kong action-adventure mystery film directed and produced by Tsui Hark. It tells a fictional story featuring Di Renjie, one of the most celebrated officials of the Tang Dynasty. In Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Di (Andy Lau) is tasked by the Empress Wu Zetian (Carina Lau) to solve a series of inexplicable murders which victims suddenly burst into flames.

Principal photography for Detective Dee began in May 2009; the film was shot at Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang, China. It features art direction and fight choreography by Sammo Hung, and co-stars Li Bingbing, Deng Chao and Tony Leung Ka-fai. Detective Dee was released in China on 29 September 2010 and in Hong Kong on 30 September 2010; in the United States, it premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film grossed US$51.7 million and won six awards at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards, more than any other film, including Best Director and Best Actress for Lau; it was also nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2010 Venice Film Festival. A prequel, Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon, also directed by Tsui and starring Lau and with Mark Chao as a young Detective Dee, was released on 28 September, 2013.