Chinese studios are leveraging AI to reimagine iconic kung-fu films featuring Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and other martial arts legends.

At the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 19, a coalition of Chinese studios announced the “Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project: 100 Classics AI Revitalization,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Highlighted films include Lee’s 1972 classic Fists of Fury, Chan’s 1978 breakthrough Drunken Master, and Li’s 1991 Once Upon a Time in China, which cemented his status in martial arts cinema.

The initiative also includes a reimagined version of John Woo’s 1986 A Better Tomorrow, infused with a cyberpunk aesthetic, described as “the world’s first fully AI-produced animated feature film.”

China Film Foundation’s Zhang Pimin, speaking at the announcement, emphasized that applying AI to these “aesthetic historical treasures” would modernize their visual appeal to align with contemporary cinema standards. He noted: “This is not just about preserving film heritage but also boldly advancing the art of filmmaking.”

Tian Ming, chairman of project partner Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media, stated that the remakes would honor the originals while enhancing visuals, audio, and production quality. Ming also announced a 100 million yuan (approximately $13.9 million) fund to launch the project.

“We warmly invite leading global AI animation companies to join us in sparking a cinematic revolution that challenges tradition,” Tian urged.

Other partners in the venture include the China Film Foundation’s Film and Urban Development Special Fund and Quantum Animation.

AI remains a divisive topic in creative industries. Renowned director Tim Burton has called AI-generated art “very disturbing,” while Wizards of the Coast faced backlash after misrepresenting AI use in Magic: The Gathering artwork.

Conversely, in December last year, Justice League and Rebel Moon director Zack Snyder encouraged filmmakers to embrace AI rather than resist it. Earlier in 2024, Netflix executives suggested audiences are largely indifferent to the technology behind their TV and film content, including AI.