The sequel to the 3D fantasy blockbuster "The Monkey King" will have an all-star cast including megastars Aaron Kwok and Gong Li to conquer the 2016 film market, the studio said on Wednesday.

The sequel to the 3D fantasy blockbuster "The Monkey King" announces its all-star cast, including megastars Aaron Kwok and Gong Li, in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Dec. 24, 2014. [Sina.com.cn / China.org.cn]

The film will still be directed by Hong Kong director Cheang Pou-Soi and produced by the Filmko Entertainment Group and 10 other film companies. The studios held its latest press conference in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where they will shoot the major scenes of the new film.

Hong Kong singer and actor Aaron Kwok officially replaced kung fu actor Donnie Yen as the title character in the sequel, the Chinese title of which literally translates to "Subdue the White-Bone Demon in Three Rounds." It is an adaptation of a famous chapter from China's classic fantasy novel "Journey to the West" that tells the story of how the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, protected the monk Xuanzang from being eaten by a shapeshifting demoness three times on a journey to collect the Buddhist sutras from India during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD).

Kwok played the Bull Demon King in the first Monkey King movie. Donnie Yen's schedule prevented him from meeting the production timeline, so Kwok took over Yen's part as the new Monkey King. Feng Shaofeng will play saintly Buddhist monk Xuanzang, and comedian Xiao Shenyang will play the monk's second disciple Zhu Bajie (a pig demon) while Hong Kong actor Law Chung-him will play the monk's third disciple Sha Wujing (a demon who once lived under water). The internationally famous actress Gong Li will play the villain, the White-Bone Demon.

"There are only four Chinese films that have grossed more than 1 billion yuan," said Liu Xiaoguang, executive producer of the film. "The new cast is amazing, and the sequel will be the champion of the 2016 Spring Festival season and set new records at box offices."

While the first "Monkey King" film grossed 1.06 billion yuan (US$170.8 million) during the 2014 Spring Festival season, the film didn't get enough positive attention due to some imperfect visual effects and make-up and a childish script. "We know the disadvantages of the first one," the director Cheang Pou-Soi said. "We will improve it and upgrade it. We will challenge not only the technologies, but also ourselves. "

Gong Li said at the press conference that she will play the White-Bone Demon rather differently from what people have normally imagined. "If the movie is going to be like what everyone thinks, it will be a failure. We will carefully recreate it and give people some surprises," she said. The film's martial arts and action choreographer will be Hong Kong action star Sammo Hung, who said he will design good but very difficult martial arts blocking for Gong.

"The Monkey King 2 in 3D" will hit Chinese theaters on Feb. 8, 2016.

But the film franchise is not the only one that wants to cash in on the popularity of "Journey to the West" -- TV icon and veteran "Monkey King" actor Zhang Jinlai has said he will also do a Monkey King 3D movie in 2016.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)