The company, which opened its first two cinemas in the past two months, aims to add about 50 theaters within three years and may spin off the business, Wang, 40, said in an interview this week. The Beijing-based studio has also held talks to collaborate with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., founded by Huayi Vice Chairman Jack Ma, he said.

The producer of the country?s highest-grossing film aims to ease the shortage of theaters that Wang says is hampering growth in the nation?s movie industry. While China has quadruple the U.S. population, it has almost 20 percent fewer theaters and box-office receipts were less than a 10th the estimated $10.6 billion generated in the U.S. and Canada last year.

Huayi may open an additional five theaters this year alone, Wang said.

Wang said Huayi may seek to market its film merchandise online and has consistently been in talks to collaborate with Hangzhou-based Alibaba. He declined to comment on specifics.

Source : Konaxis