(Global Times) Chinese film Top Funny Comedian: The Movie, starring cross-talk performer Guo Degang and British comedian Rowan Atkinson, held its premiere in Beijing on Sunday.
The film is scheduled to hit cinemas across China on Friday.
An adaptation of the popular TV comedy variety show now in its third season on Shanghai's Dragon TV, the film is surely looking to capitalize on the show's large fanbase to earn big at the box office.
The film follows a group of China's top comedians, including Guo Degang and Yue Yunpeng, as they rehearse for a show in Macao.
When Guo's character suddenly disappears, the other comedians, including Atkinson's character, then band together to rescue Guo by any means possible.
The film was originally scheduled to debut on January 28 during the Spring Festival holiday period, but the studio decided to change dates to avoid competition from other huge Chinese films entering theaters during the holidays.
This move, however, means that Atkinson, famous for his character "Mr Bean," will have to compete with Tom Hiddleston and his giant ape King Kong when the latter two debut in the Chinese mainland in Kong: Skull Island on the same day.
Source: Global Times