TGC frames this as a strategic play to tap into Southeast Asia's 'incredible room to grow,' positioning Vietnamese stories as untapped global commodity. Leonard Lai emphasizes trust in local filmmakers and the power of original IP.
Multiple sources confirm TGC is entering Vietnam for the first time — risky territory for an unknown player. The deal comes just weeks after Skyline Media shopped 'The Scourge' at Cannes, suggesting rapid-fire negotiations once buyers showed interest in a proven gaming property with viral Steam numbers.
Source game crossed 100,000 downloads on Steam with 94% positive rating. Deal formalized May 2026 following Cannes Film Market debut where Skyline Media launched the project to international buyers this month.
The real question isn't whether 'The Scourge' will scare audiences — it's whether a first-time Vietnam investor and an ambitious production company can actually deliver on global ambitions while mining authentic Vietnamese horror traditions. The game has the receipts. The film still needs to prove itself.
Move over, Hollywood remakes — there's a new horror property in town, and it started as a video game that's been terrifying players across Southeast Asia. Singapore-based Triple Green CineCapital (TGC) has formalized a partnership with Vietnamese production house Chánh Phương Films on "The Scourge" (Tai Ương), marking TGC's debut investment in Vietnam's film market, Variety reports. The project originated as a video game that has now crossed 100,000 downloads and earned a staggering 94% positive rating on Steam.
Set in a haunted apartment building in Ho Chi Minh City, the source material draws inspiration from a real abandoned structure in the city — giving the property an authenticity that horror fans crave. But the film adaptation isn't content to simply follow the game's playbook. According to producers, the movie will expand beyond the gaming premise by folding in local urban legends, ghost stories, and old Vietnamese customs, creating something that could appeal to audiences beyond the gamer demographic.
"The film markets in Vietnam and Southeast Asia have incredible room to grow with unique local stories that have not been fully explored yet," said Leonard Lai, TGC's chief executive. His company made its industry debut at Indonesia's JAFF Market 2025 with a stated focus on commercial film across emerging Southeast Asian markets. "TGC decides to choose 'The Scourge' as our first investment in Vietnam to reinforce the power of original content IP and local filmmakers in Southeast Asia." Charlie Nguyễn, producer at Chánh Phương Films, which has previously delivered local hits including "Bẫy Rồng," "Em Chưa 18" and "Để Mai Tính," expressed confidence that the regional investment partnership signals Vietnamese stories can compete internationally.
"The companion of a regional investment partner with a global mindset like TGC gives us a strong launchpad, proving that Vietnamese stories and talents are strong enough to compete internationally and set a new standard for adapted horror films in Vietnam," Nguyễn said. Behind the camera, Đoàn Sĩ Nguyên ("Điều Ước Cuối Cùng") will direct from a screenplay by Trần Khánh Hoàng, whose credits include "Em Chưa 18" — suggesting the production has assembled talent with proven track records in Vietnamese entertainment.
Skyline Media is handling international sales, having launched the project to buyers at this month's Cannes Film Market just weeks before the TGC deal was formalized. The speed of the transaction raises eyebrows. Skyline Media showed the property at Cannes, and within weeks, a previously unknown Singapore investment group has committed financing through its first Vietnam deal. Whether that rapid courtship signals strong confidence in the project or competitive pressure to lock up promising Southeast Asian properties remains to be seen — but for now, "The Scourge" is positioned as something to watch.
