Basic martial arts movies starring the likes of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee are set to be remastered with AI.
The initiative from the China Movie Basis will embrace classics reminiscent of 1978’s Drunken Grasp, 1972’s Fists Of Fury and Jet Li’s 1991 movie As soon as Upon A Time in China, and is aiming to revive 100 martial arts movies utilizing the know-how.
The venture, which was unveiled on the twenty seventh Shanghai Worldwide Movie Competition, will utilise AI to boost pictures, sound and manufacturing high quality, whereas nonetheless being touted to protect the aesthetic and storytelling (by way of Selection).
“From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Wolf Warrior, these movies have proven the world the vitality and spirit of the Chinese language folks,” stated China Movie Basis’s chair Zhang Qilin. “They’re our cinematic calling playing cards to the world.”
Canxing Media chair Tian Ming added “AI is the comb, however creativity is the soul. Basic kung fu movies embody China’s religious spine. We’re inviting international companions to affix this cultural and technological reboot.”
10 movies shall be prioritised for the primary section of the initiative, with $13.9million (£10.35million) being allotted.
It’s a part of the Kung Fu Movie Heritage Venture, which has additionally confirmed what’s touted as the primary totally AI-produced animated function movie, A Higher Tomorrow: Cyber Border. The brand new interpretation of the 1986 John Woo movie has used AI in features together with script and animation.
The subject of AI in movie has confirmed very divisive lately, and earlier in 2025 Oscar contenders reminiscent of The Brutalist and Emilia Perez acquired criticism for the use of AI to change components of performances.
Final month, Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne was confirmed to make her directorial debut on the movie Uncanny Valley, which follows “a teenage lady who turns into unmoored by a massively well-liked AR online game in a parallel current”, and will use AI.
Produced by Lyonne and filmmaker Bryn Mooser’s AI studio Asteria, the plot’s online game components are being delivered to display with an AI mannequin that’s constructed on copyright-cleared information, in precept being a extra moral use of the know-how.
“When artists lead the tech as a substitute of the opposite method spherical, trailblazing and surprising developments are potential,” Mooser stated.
In the meantime, movie director James Cameron has additionally stated he’s exploring how AI can lower prices “in half” with out “shedding half the employees”.
In different information, Michael Cera just lately spoke to NME about assembly Chan for the primary time – although the movie legend wasn’t conscious of who he was.