Chinese Studios Planning AI Remakes of the Classic Kung Fu Films of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li

Chinese studios are afloat embracing AI, with a caller announcement that the iconic kung-fu films of Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and different martial arts greats volition get remade via AI.

A radical of Chinese studios unveiled what they’re calling the “Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project 100 Classics AI Revitalization Project” during the Shanghai International Film Festival connected June 19, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They specifically highlighted titles similar Lee’s 1972 movie Fists of Fury, Chan’s breakout 1978 movie Drunken Master, and the 1991 movie Once Upon a Time successful China, which made Li a household sanction successful kung-fu films.

The studios besides program to rework John Woo’s 1986 movie A Better Tomorrow with a cyberpunk edge, successful what they’re calling “the world’s archetypal full-process, AI-produced animated diagnostic film.”

China Film Foundation Zhang Pimin addressed the enactment astatine the announcement and said utilizing AI connected these “aesthetic humanities treasures” would alteration their look successful a mode that “conforms to modern movie viewing.” He added: “It is not lone movie heritage, but besides a brave exploration of the innovative improvement of movie art.”

Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media president of task partners Tian Ming claimed these caller versions would “pay tribute to the archetypal work” and “reshape the ocular aesthetics,” portion besides demonstrating upgrades successful image, sound, and wide accumulation levels. Ming besides revealed that a money worthy a whopping 100 cardinal yuan (approx. $13.9 million), would beryllium utilized to get the inaugural going.

“We sincerely invitation the world’s apical AI animation companies to jointly commencement a movie gyration that subverts tradition,” Tian said.

Additional partners for the task see the China Film Foundation’s Film and Urban Development Special Fund and Quantum Animation.

AI has proved a arguable taxable wrong originative industries. Legendary filmmaker Tim Burton called AI generated creation "very disturbing" portion Wizards of the Coast was forced to contented a correction aft claiming it didn't usage AI for immoderate Magic: The Gathering artwork erstwhile it really did.

However, successful December past year, Justice League and Rebel Moon manager Zack Snyder said filmmakers request to clasp artificial quality alternatively of "standing connected the sidelines with your hands connected your hips." And earlier successful 2024, Netflix bosses said audiences "don't attraction much" astir the exertion utilized to present TV and film, including AI.

Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images.

Lex Briscuso is simply a movie and tv professional and a freelance amusement writer for IGN. You tin travel her connected Twitter astatine @nikonamerica.