A gentleman's selection: how to shoot the sequel to the detective action film "Red Silk"

Filming of the long-awaited detective action film "Black Silk" has started in the capital. The film will be a continuation of the Russian-Chinese project "Red Silk", which premiered successfully in cinemas in both countries in 2025. Now the epic scenes will become even bigger and more exciting, and there will be twice as many intricate espionage intrigues and sex symbols on the screen. Izvestia exclusively visited the set on the first day of filming, met there the performer of one of the main roles, actor Gleb Kalyuzhny, and also saw the huge scenery of the Zeppelin airship, which in the new film will become a kind of "Death Star" from Star Wars.

Filming of the action movie "Black Silk" has begun in Moscow

The year is 1931. Shanghai is the "Asian New York", a city of nightclubs and neon signs, behind the glitter of which foreign intelligence services operate, and dangerous alleys keep their secrets. A mysterious cargo codenamed "Black Silk" is being transported there. No one knows for sure if it's a weapon or secret documents, but the hunt is starting. The knot of intrigue tightens even more tightly when a Japanese passenger liner leaves Vladivostok for Shanghai with agents from several countries on board.

"Black silk?”What is it? — One of the gentlemen asks a question. —The key to everything," explains another passenger, who is clearly not who he claims to be.

This is one of the first filmed scenes of the continuation of the large-scale espionage action "Red Silk". Now it has become "Black" — and even the color hints that the stakes have increased.

— We have launched! We have the first day of filming "Black Silk" and a very cool group of professionals, many of whom worked on "Red Silk". But I tell them all to forget about it and do something new - even better, more cheerful and incredible. Let's go! — the director Andrey Volgin commanded and broke the plate according to the film tradition.

One of the surprises is the return to the set of the star of Russian cinema and the first "Silk" Gleb Kalyuzhny. The actor took a leave of absence to participate in the first day of filming. After completing his military service, he will continue to work on the film. In the frame, he demonstrates that he is still in shape.

A few seconds before the firecracker, Kalyuzhny freezes with a focused face, as if he doesn't even hear anything around him. A blow, the command "Let's go!", and the very magic of cinema happens, which can only be seen on the set — some other person suddenly appears in front of my eyes.: with their facial expressions, gestures, and speech. Those who watched "Red Silk" will immediately recognize it. This was once a young and inexperienced security officer Artyom Svetlov.

Four years later, between the action of the first and second parts, he has changed a lot: now he is not a young man in a cap and overcoat, but a young man dressed like a gentleman — with a needle (moreover, literally — a minute before the motor, the costumers sewed the collar right on Gleb). Svetlov even began to wear a mustache, which makeup artists correct with a miniature brush every time between takes.

For the Black Silk team, attention to the smallest details is a basic minimum. The costume shop has a collection that any trendy vintage flea market would envy. Some details, like buttons and emblems, were recreated by the artists themselves — they studied in the archives how it looked in the 1930s, then they were accurately rendered and given to 3D printing. This decision was chosen because many of the things of those years simply have not been preserved today. In the props area there is a rare service and old worn chests of various shapes and sizes. It is a special pleasure to find yourself inside the magnificent scenery.

— The walls are velvet, don't touch them! Don't touch them!!! — a voice in one of the walkie-talkies cuts through the silence, when someone, unable to resist, pulls his hands to the upholstery.

On this day, they shoot in the stylish interiors of the very Japanese ship of the 1930s. Every detail here is about visual aesthetics. In addition to velvet walls, the first—class passenger cabin and cabins feature leather armchairs, table lamps with a distinctive scarlet shade and Art Deco fringe, glass ashtrays with strict geometry, and printed booklets that invite you to a film trip on the Moriya Maru liner.

"The film requires close attention from the viewer, not just entertaining"

In some ways, the atmosphere is reminiscent of "Titanic" and "The Great Gatsby." And the characters played in these Leonardo DiCaprio films would fit seamlessly into the scenery of Black Silk. But this movie has its own sex symbols, which are not inferior to Hollywood.

One of them is already familiar to the viewer from the first part. This is a high-class Russian intelligence officer, former tsarist agent Nikolai Garin, played by the audience's favorite Milos Bikovich.

In the first part, he came up with a trick: every time during a fight, his character swears in a different language than his native language. And through these words and phrases, the viewer can trace his path, where he visited and served, and find out his biography.

"In the new film, we have the opportunity to get to know Garin better: to show what dilemmas he faces, what decisions he has to make," Milos Bikovic told Izvestia. — It's not just an action game anymore, it's also an immersion into the depths of the character both philosophically and emotionally. At the same time, the film remains stylish and dynamic. And, what is important: it requires the viewer's close attention, and not just entertains him.

One of the most spectacular scenes of the first part with the actor's participation is a fight on the roof of a moving Trans-Siberian express train. The new series promises even more excitement, so Bikovich has already started training.

— I was injured on one of the shootings last year, and now I'm preparing more carefully for difficult scenes — I practice and rehearse more. The main thing is to learn the choreography of a fight so that you don't have to think about it. Then you can build a certain drama inside the fight. There is a freedom that does not exist if you constantly think about which movement to make next," the actor shared.

Since the creators multiply all the chips of the first part by at least two in the sequel, there are more charismatic characters. Maxim Matveev joined the cast. He will appear in the image of Richard Sorge, who also has everything to gain attention.

— Few people know that Sorge worked in Shanghai for a short time. He was thrown there. In this era, Shanghai can be compared to Asian New York. At that time, a huge number of intelligence services from all over the world were operating in a fairly small area: Americans, British, Germans, Japanese, ours. Back then, Sorge could be said to be the master of Shanghai. The local Gatsby: a journalist, popular with women, respected by foreigners. And this dandy worked under deep cover for Soviet intelligence," screenwriter Maria Nefedova told Izvestia.

At the same time, the creators strive not to disrupt the facts and maintain a balance between fiction and historical authenticity in favor of the latter. For example, even the ship, whose huge life-size deck was built here in the pavilion, has a prototype.

"This is the Japanese ship Hikawa Maru. He's a little different from ours, of course, but we took his silhouette," director Andrei Volgin showed Izvestia on the set. — Everything will be rocking, flooded with water. At the moment, we probably have one of the biggest decorations with a gimble (movable platform — ed.), on which a piece of the ship is built.

The same giant prototype of the German Zeppelin airship is currently being completed next door. They are not allowed to show it yet, but the design looks frighteningly impressive.

"Among ourselves, we call our Zeppelin the Death Star from Star Wars, because in this story it is a symbol of doom, of the disaster that will hang over Shanghai and our heroes," added screenwriter Maria Nefedova.

Among these characters is a Polish nun performed by Polina Kutsenko. Interestingly, her father, actor Gosha Kutsenko, starred in Red Silk.

— Dad said to approach responsibly. But I'm also a responsible person in my own right. He's very happy for me. He advised me to learn the Polish prayer. I'm in the process right now. Just for myself, for the image, so to speak. He's in favor of a working approach. I respect him very much for this and tried not to lose face," promised Polina Kutsenko while she was sitting in makeup.

The "silk" universe

Silk is an international project. But if Krasny united the Russian and Chinese teams on the site, now the geographical composition has expanded. Japanese actor Junsuke Kinoshita took part in the filming of the first scenes.

— I really want this movie to be shown in Japan. Russian cinema is close and important to me, and I sincerely love it," Kinosita expressed his hope in between takes.

There is a possibility, given that the first film had a successful experience at the international box office. The premiere of "Red Silk" in Russia took place a year ago — in February 2025. Soon, he reached the Celestial Empire. Interest in the detective story co-produced by the two countries was so high that it raised $1.8 million in China and eventually topped the ranking of the highest-grossing domestic films at the foreign box office. The bets on "Black Silk" are no less.

"I hope he will have the same successful international fate as Red Silk, because the first film in this series was bought in many countries around the world and won awards at many international festivals," Svetlana Balanova, NMG's General Director, told Izvestia.

Moreover, the "silk" universe may become wider — a large franchise of an international level. And so far the only one in its genre in Russian cinema.

— Even during the production process of Red Silk, it became clear that this wonderful story has the potential for more than one sequel. And, let me tell you a secret, perhaps "Black Silk" will not be the last film in this series," Svetlana Balanova added.

The premiere of the new series is scheduled for March 31, 2027. There is a block of filming in China ahead — on location and in pavilions. Despite the fact that "Black Silk" will continue the story of "Red", it can be viewed as an independent work, the creators note. Viewers who missed the first part have time to get to know the heroes of the project, who have already proved once that even the most difficult mission is feasible for them.