"I really like this character," Zheng said before the premiere in Shanghai. "I was very much touched by, and identify with the passion and idealism he has for the acting career." Zheng, a veteran actor who used to play the leading roles in the Chinese version of Frankenstein, has taken the new job as the producer of the Magic Hour.

"We loved the original film of Mitani," said Li, the director. "We hope by adapting it to Chinese theater, we can recreate on the stage the story filled with laughter and tears, pay our tribute to the art of movie and theater, and hopefully inspire audience's empathy for the dreams and love of the characters."