Popcorn Wire has learned from Variety that the multimedia project, centered on the incredible true story of 18th-century Chinese pirate leader Cheng Shih, is charting an exciting course with multiple new ventures.
At the heart of the franchise is Cheng Shih, a formidable female figure who commanded a vast fleet in the South China Sea. Her story is being brought to life through various innovative formats. The initial 2024 VR experience, 'The Pirate Queen,' earned an Emmy nomination, setting a high bar. Its successor, 'The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters,' an immersive experience that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival's Immersive Competition, is now slated for an international tour next year. This experience goes beyond VR headsets, enveloping audiences in a shared room with dynamic projections, sounds, and movements, allowing them to literally step into Cheng Shih’s world.
Lucy Liu, who narrates and produces 'No Safe Waters' alongside Singer, is deeply invested in portraying Cheng Shih with the nuance and scale she deserves. Liu emphasizes that Cheng Shih defied conventional stereotypes, describing her as a figure who was "politically astute, ruthless when necessary, deeply strategic, and completely self-determined." For Liu, telling such stories is crucial, as they remind us that "history has always contained powerful, complex women – they were never centered in mainstream narratives.”
Eloise Singer, the project’s writer and director, has dedicated a decade to 'The Pirate Queen,' with Liu joining for the last three years. Their collaboration has now extended to co-writing a graphic novel and developing a new game, expanding the 'storyworld' even further. Singer expressed her gratitude for the partnership, stating, "I feel really lucky to be making it with Lucy. She’s thrown her heart and soul into this alongside me, and getting to build this world together has been one of the most special parts of the journey."
Singer's innovative work, particularly on 'No Safe Waters,' has been recognized by BAFTA, which named her to its 2026 Breakthrough U.K. cohort in the games category. This Netflix-supported initiative celebrates emerging screen talent, and Singer views it as a significant milestone, especially for an immersive project. She sees a burgeoning future for immersive storytelling, noting a "real appetite for immersive work now" and significant distribution interest.
Liu also shared her perspective on the immersive medium, seeing it as both an evolution of filmmaking and a distinct art form. "We’re still discovering the language of immersive storytelling which is what makes this moment so exciting creatively," she remarked. Both creators are committed to challenging conventions and exploring histories that have been overlooked, ensuring Cheng Shih's powerful narrative reaches a broad and engaged audience across multiple platforms.