Martial arts legends Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li could soon grace the screen once more, this time in digitally resurrected form, as China launches an ambitious AI-powered revival of classic kung fu cinema.
Unveiled at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, the China Film Foundation, alongside industry partners, announced two major initiatives under the Kung Fu Film Heritage Project: an AI-led restoration of 100 iconic martial arts films, and the debut of A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border, the world’s first fully AI-produced animated feature.
According to Variety, the restoration project will use artificial intelligence to remaster titles such as Fist of Fury, The Big Boss, Drunken Master and Once Upon a Time in China, enhancing image and sound while preserving their original aesthetic and storytelling.
“From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Wolf Warrior, these films have shown the world the vitality and spirit of the Chinese people,” said Zhang Qilin, chair of the China Film Foundation. “They are our cinematic calling cards to the world.”
In the project’s first phase, ten films will be prioritised, backed by an initial investment of RMB100 million (USD13.9 million), confirmed Canxing Media chair Tian Ming.
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“AI is the brush, but creativity is the soul,” Tian said. “Classic kung fu films embody China’s spiritual backbone. We’re inviting global partners to join this cultural and technological reboot.”
Meanwhile, A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border, a futuristic reimagining of John Woo’s crime classic, premiered at the festival.
Created entirely by a 30-person team at Quantum Animation using a full-stack AI pipeline from scripting and modelling to animation and rendering the film exemplifies AI’s growing influence in creative production.
“This entire animated feature was made by just 30 people,” said producer Zhang Qing. “AI has collapsed the barrier between creativity and execution. The production cycle has gone from years to months.”
Presented as a proof-of-concept for the future of Chinese genre storytelling, Cyber Border blends martial arts and sci-fi elements while encouraging creators to adapt IPs like Wong Fei-hung and Nezha into games and interactive formats.