Wolves' owners Fosun fund new sci-fi movie starring Will Smith

The Chinese group's Fosun Pictures has joined Skydance and Paramount Pictures as a global partner on the science fiction action thriller Gemini Man.

The film, starring Will Smith, Clive Owen and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, is due to be released in North America on October 11 in North America.

It is being directed by Tainwanese director Ang Lee.

Fosun Pictures is a film subsidiary of the massive Chinese conglomerate.

Fosun previously co-financed Ang Lee's 2016 movie Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

“Lee is such a great director with worldwide reputation and Gemini is a one-of-a-kind character-driven action movie we’ve never seen before,’” said Fosun Pictures' chairman and Fosun International senior vice president Li Haifeng.

“We’re also impressed by the teams of Skydance and Paramount Pictures. Both are very energetic and innovative. We are thrilled to work with them.”

Last month Fosun International's annual figures revealed. Its turnover rose 24.2 per cent last year to £12.31 billion with a record profit of £1.51bn for 2018 – up 1.9 per cent.

Fosun's interest in films provides it another string to its bow. Its interests span the insurance, real estate, lifestyle services, fashion and hospitality sectors.

But its association with Wolves shows that it also wants to branch out into sport, leisure and entertainment. It has a majority control of a number of well-known international brands, such as Club Med and French fashion house Lanvin.

And it is also the main shareholder in Canadian-based Cirque du Soleil, with a fresh drive to take the show into China.