Monte Carlo – German pubcaster ARD and Fremantle Media-owned UFA Film & TV Production have teamed up with regional Chinese broadcaster Guangdong TV and its subsidiary Pearl River Productions to develop a telefilm called The Mask of Gianju, described to be an Asian version of Indiana Jones.

Norbert Sauer, UFA’s MD and CEO, said production is due to start at the end of this year, in time for a mid-2013 delivery. “In Germany we have put pressure on the broadcasters to allow producers to retain rights, so we’re looking more to the international market. The deal with ARD and the Chinese partners gives UFA the German-speaking rights to Mask while Guangdong retains Asian rights,” said Sauer.

UFA already has worked with Asian companies before, co-producing the telefilm The Last Tycoon in Singapore.