Sleuth spoof takes to Tokyo

Unlike traditional detective films which set a serious tone and unfold in a nail-biting fashion, this franchise is more of a buddy movie featuring funny moments and exotic backdrops, a pivotal characteristic in helping to pave its way to major success.

Following the first Detective Chinatown film that earned 830 million yuan to soar as the cinematic dark horse of 2015, the second romp raked in 3.4 billion yuan, propelling it to become the highest-grossing comedy of all time in China.

The popularity of the franchise has been enhanced with the recently released 12-episode online series of the same title, which has gained 7.5 points out of 10 on the review site Douban, a barometer of popularity.

With Chen serving as the chief producer and scriptwriter, the online drama consists of three stand-alone stories, which were shot over 114 days in Bangkok, Taiwan and Tokyo.

Industry analysts say the online series, which has been streaming on the iQiyi platform since Jan 1, is a smart and strategic move as a warmup for the upcoming third movie installment.

"I have kept my eye on the film market, especially during the Spring Festival holidays, in recent years. I've discovered that domestic audiences are becoming more discerning and expect good stories," says Chen.