Lucy Liu’s Immersive Pirate Epic Expands to Global Tour and New Games

Eleven years of development have culminated in a new phase for “The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters.” The immersive experience, which centers on the life of 18th-century Chinese pirate leader Cheng Shih, is scheduled to launch an international tour next year. Alongside this expansion, the project is growing into a graphic novel and a new video game. These developments were announced as writer and director Eloise Singer joined the 2026 BAFTA Breakthrough U.K. cohort.

The story draws on historical records of Cheng Shih, a powerful naval figure who operated in the South China Sea at the beginning of the 1700s. The current iteration of the project, titled “No Safe Waters,” played in the Immersive Competition at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. It follows a 2024 virtual reality version of the story that received an Emmy nomination. Lucy Liu serves as narrator and producer for the new piece, working alongside Singer.

The technical format of the new show differs from the original headset-based experience. Instead of isolating viewers in a digital space, the production fills a shared physical room with projection, sound, and movement. Audiences stand in the space while visual effects of storms and fleets surround them. The design places dragons moving beneath the feet of the spectators, creating a collective environment rather than a private one.

Liu explained that her role relies heavily on vocal performance rather than physical presence. She does not appear on screen in the immersive version. Instead, her voice guides the atmosphere and directs the movement of the audience. Liu noted that this approach allows the voice to build emotional structure in a way that differs from traditional film. She stated that the voice helps create emotional architecture where a camera might otherwise capture a glance or gesture.

Singer has worked on the project for a decade, with the last three years spent in collaboration with Liu. The pair have co-written a graphic novel and are currently developing a new game based on the narrative. Singer described the partnership as a central part of the creative journey. She said she is proud to see the story evolve across different formats, allowing audiences to experience the history in multiple ways.

Liu views Cheng Shih as a figure who defied historical stereotypes of Asian women in storytelling. She described the pirate leader as intelligent, strategically brilliant, and self-determined. Liu said that the character won respect through negotiation and leadership in a world designed to exclude women. She added that audiences are now seeking stories that feature powerful and complex women who were previously left out of mainstream narratives.

BAFTA named Singer to its Breakthrough program on Nov. 4. The initiative, supported by Netflix, focuses on emerging screen talent. Singer was selected in the games category for “No Safe Waters.” She described the selection as a surreal moment and expressed gratitude for the recognition of the immersive work. She said a former program participant advised her to make the most of the opportunities provided by the cohort.

Singer said she feels a sustainable future for immersive storytelling is now emerging. She pointed to the distribution interest in “The Pirate Queen” as evidence of a growing appetite for this type of media. Liu described the form as an extension of filmmaking that requires a different relationship between the story and the viewer. Both creators view the current moment as a period of creative discovery for the medium.

The next step for the franchise is the international tour, which will bring the room-based experience to new audiences. The graphic novel and game are also in active development. Singer continues to develop scripted projects for film and television while managing the expansion of the “Pirate Queen” universe. The project remains focused on telling the story of a historical figure who challenged expectations and refused to follow traditional rules.