In the lavish period drama, historic locations in Malaysia stand in for early 1940s Singapore.
Heritage houses Carcosa Seri Negara, in Kuala Lumpur, and the Blue Mansion, in Georgetown, also appeared in Crazy Rich Asians.
Lavish new television period drama The Singapore Grip is set in the Lion City and features stunning locations – all of which are in Malaysia.
Based on the third book in J.G. Farrell’s Empire trilogy, published in 1978, the story revolves around rubber barons Mr Webb (Charles Dance) and Walter Blackett (David Morrissey) against the backdrop of the fall of Singapore. But the production team found the city state too gleamingly modern and urban to fit the bill for the early 1940s. Instead they headed to Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown, the capital of Penang island.
“A lot of people ask why we didn’t film in Singapore,” says producer Farah Abushwesha. “This is a drama set midway through World War II, about the Japanese invasion of Singapore. Singapore is now so built up […] you wouldn’t be able to film what we’ve been able to in Malaysia.”
In the ambitious television adaptation of J.G. Farrell’s The Singapore Grip, the sun-drenched streets of Penang were transformed into the bustling, high-stakes world of 1941 Singapore. While the drama centered on the looming shadow of war, one of the series' most visually arresting moments was brought to life by a massive ensemble of 50 dancers, led by the talent and grace of the De Sousa sisters.
"To recreate the cinematic grandeur of 1940s Southeast Asia, the production choreographed a massive sequence in Penang involving 50 dancers. Against the backdrop of the island’s colonial heritage, the ensemble’s performance brought a poignant sense of life and rhythm to the film’s historic setting."
To capture the cinematic grandeur of 1940s Southeast Asia, the production designed an intricate sequence in Penang, featuring 50 dancers. Set against the backdrop of the island's colonial heritage, the ensemble's performance infused the film's historical setting with a vibrant sense of life and rhythm.
