Lucy Liu Franchise: Immersive Pirate Story Expands to Global Tour and Games

Audiences who previously experienced the story in private headsets will soon share a large room with projected storms and moving fleets. Lucy Liu and writer Eloise Singer are taking "The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters" on an international tour starting next year. The new format uses shared projection and sound to surround viewers, replacing the isolated VR experience from the 2024 release.

The project centers on Cheng Shih, a female pirate leader in the South China Sea at the start of the 18th century. Liu notes that Cheng Shih was politically astute and strategic, earning respect through negotiation in a society that excluded women. She states that the character defies common stereotypes placed on Asian women in historical storytelling.

The franchise began as a virtual reality piece that earned an Emmy nomination. The current version, titled "No Safe Waters," competed in the immersive category at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Liu serves as narrator and producer, while Singer handles writing and direction. The team has spent a decade developing the project, with the last three years focused on Liu’s involvement.

Singer was selected for the 2026 BAFTA Breakthrough U.K. cohort on Nov. 4. The program, supported by Netflix, targets emerging screen talent. Singer was chosen in the games category for her work on "No Safe Waters." She described the selection as surreal, noting that it validates the team’s effort to bring the story to life in an immersive format.

The creators are also expanding the story world into other media. They have co-written a graphic novel and are developing a new video game. Singer says the team aims to build a scalable future for immersive storytelling, citing strong distribution interest in the project. She noted that this year marks the first time she has felt the medium could be sustainable.

Liu views the project as a way to support the integrity of the larger creative vision. She wants to create space for histories that have not been fully explored in mainstream narratives. The team plans to continue developing the franchise across different formats, allowing audiences to experience the story in various ways.

Singer says she is looking forward to meeting other filmmakers through the BAFTA program. She intends to use the opportunity to connect with peers and continue telling stories about people who challenge expectations. The production team remains focused on expanding the reach of Cheng Shih’s story through new platforms.