KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Veteran Malaysian actor Zul Ariffin has stepped into the world of Malay folklore as the lead star of Baling, the latest upcoming film under the Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe (ASCU) banner.

The ASCU is a shared fictional universe connecting characters and stories from Astro Shaw’s local films and television series.

Directed by Anwari Ashraf, whose previous work includes the Projek: High Council series and the Keluang Man film, Baling is set to be an action-horror thriller inspired by Raja Bersiong, the mythical ruler known as the fanged king.

The character originated in Malay folklore and literature, including Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, which tells of a tyrannical ruler associated with the ancient kingdom of Kedah.

Drawing on the tale, the film follows Yong, also known as Raja Bersiong, who has lived for centuries and must confront a past that continues to haunt him.

As he comes to terms with his history, Yong embarks on a journey towards redemption, facing challenges that test not only his strength but also his humanity.

Astro Shaw announced Zul’s casting last night, with filming currently underway in Baling, Kedah.

Behind the scenes, the film brings together a team of industry talents, including cinematographer Nicholas Chin (Blood Brothers), producer Awan Kiko (Libang Libu), editor Irwan Ahmad (Projek: High Council) and production designer Rabbani Sujak (Malam Terlarang).

Baling arrives as ASCU continues to build momentum, with Kudrat 1968 drawing attention through its release on Astro and Netflix.

According to Astro Shaw, the title has generated more than 630 million views across social media, while videos related to the interconnected ASCU universe have amassed over 23 million views.

The growing response has also sparked fan theories and discussions, with viewers looking for clues and connections between the different stories.

Astro Shaw head Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said the level of audience engagement shows how invested fans are in the expanding universe.

“The response to Kudrat 1968, together with over 23 million views across our ASCU videos, shows how invested audiences have become in this interconnected world.

“What excites us most is how actively ASCU fans are following the clues, debating theories, and making connections across our stories.

“That is exciting for us, and Baling gives them more to discover,” she said in a statement.

She added that Raja Bersiong’s legend offered plenty of room to explore a character whose centuries-long existence has left him with a complicated past.

“The legend of Raja Bersiong is a familiar part of Malaysian folklore, but there is so much we can explore through this character, a man who has lived for centuries and must confront the past he carries.

“With Baling, we are bringing action, suspense and horror to that story,” she said.

Jastina also expressed confidence in Anwari’s ability to bring the story to life, pointing to his work in developing the Projek: High Council universe.

“With him creating and directing Baling, and Zul Ariffin, one of Malaysia’s leading stars, playing Yong, we are confident they can bring both the scale and the emotion this story deserves,” she concluded.

Currently, Kudrat 1968 is taking a one-story, two-format approach, with its narrative unfolding across a four-episode series before continuing in a feature film.

The fourth and final episode is set to be released on October 16.

As for Baling, no release date has been announced yet.