Economic crime hunting comes to your television

The new TV series “Hunting,” paying tribute to the country’s economic crime investigation police, has debuted on Dragon TV.

Directed by Liu Xin, the series features a group of cops who team up to solve transnational economic crime cases.

Prior to “Hunting,” there were few domestic dramas based on this special group of police who have contributed to the steady development of China’s economy. 

The series offers a panoramic and realistic depiction of the operation “Fox Hunt,” which was launched in 2014 by China’s Ministry of Public Security to hunt down economic criminals that fled overseas.

Over the past six years, more than 6,000 economic crime suspects who fled China have been extradited from more than 120 countries and regions. More than 10 billion yuan (US$1.41 billion) has been recovered.

Zhao Dongling, creator of TV dramas “Red Sorghum” and “Housing,” is “Hunting’s” scriptwriter. She interviewed nearly 100 cops on the economic crime beat. She was impressed by their knowledge and expertise in economic sectors and their breathtaking hunting experiences. 

Production of the series lasted three years. Liu says it’s a challenging subject to translate to the big screen. Prior to shooting, the show’s actors and crew spent a lot of time learning about the profession and economics in general.

About one-third of “Hunting’s” scenes were shot overseas in countries such as Kenya and the Czech Republic. The crew had to overcome language barriers and cultural differences.

This type of role is a first for Wang Kai, known for his acting in “The Disguiser” and “Like a Flowing River,” and has required him to recite some of his lines in English.

“It gives me a chance to know more about their work, which is challenging and dangerous,” said Wang. “They’re respectable heroes.”

The drama explores themes like desire and humanity in the face of money and power. 

Hu Jun, another actor in the series, said one of the most dangerous challenges the characters face is not from bullets but from the temptation of money.