Chinese Studios to Revive Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li Classics with AI

Chinese film studios are fully embracing AI technology, with a recent announcement revealing plans to remake iconic kung-fu films featuring Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and other martial arts legends using artificial intelligence.

During the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 19, a consortium of Chinese studios unveiled what they're calling the "Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project 100 Classics AI Revitalization Project," as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. They specifically highlighted titles like Lee's 1972 classic Fists of Fury, Chan's breakthrough 1978 film Drunken Master, and the 1991 hit Once Upon a Time in China, which established Li as a household name in martial arts cinema.

The studios also intend to reinvent John Woo's 1986 film A Better Tomorrow with a cyberpunk twist, describing it as "the world's first fully AI-produced animated feature film created through a complete production process."

At the announcement, Zhang Pimin of the China Film Foundation addressed the project, stating that applying AI to these "aesthetic historical treasures" would transform their visual presentation to "align with contemporary film viewing standards." He added: "This represents not just film preservation, but a bold exploration into the innovative evolution of cinematic art."

Tian Ming, chairman of project partner Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media, claimed these new versions would "honor the original works" while "redefining visual aesthetics," demonstrating significant upgrades in imagery, audio quality, and overall production values. Ming also revealed that a substantial fund of 100 million yuan (approximately $13.9 million) would be allocated to launch the initiative.

"We sincerely invite the world's leading AI animation companies to join us in pioneering a film revolution that defies traditional boundaries," Tian stated.

Additional project partners include the China Film Foundation's Film and Urban Development Special Fund and Quantum Animation.

AI has become a contentious subject within creative industries. Legendary filmmaker Tim Burton described AI-generated art as "deeply unsettling," while Wizards of the Coast faced criticism after admitting to using AI for Magic: The Gathering artwork despite earlier denials.

However, in December, Justice League and Rebel Moon director Zack Snyder argued that filmmakers should embrace artificial intelligence rather than "remain on the sidelines as observers." Earlier in 2024, Netflix executives noted that audiences "show little concern" about the specific technologies used to create television and film content, including AI applications.