Blades of the Guardians

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
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The return of Jet Li? More on Yuen Woo Ping’s ‘Blades of the Guardians’ starring Wu Jing and Nic Tse

Posted on March 8, 2025 by JJ Bona
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“Blades of the Guardians” Teaser Poster

Legendary Hong Kong filmmaker and action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (In the Line of Duty 4, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II) will be directing Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2) and Nicolas Tse (Customs Frontline) in Blades of the Guardians, a live-action adaptation of the Chinese comic book of the same name from Mandarin Motion Pictures.

After rumors circulating across every media source, it has been confirmed that Jet Li (League of Gods) will co-star, which will mark Li’s first film appearance since 2020’s Mulan.

Additionally, Yu Rongguang (New Police Story), Tony Leung Ka-fai (Hidden Blade) and Kara Hui (Sakra) are attached to the film.

The story is set in 607 AD and people are living under the rule of the evil Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty. An extremely skilled armed escort traverses the desert of the Western Regions. While pursued by the imperial court, he takes on an escort mission with the destination of Chang’an, the capital. Mistaking it for a simple escort mission, unexpected dangers surface and a shocking conspiracy is revealed (via MAAC).

Production is set to begin this year. We’ll keep you posted on this project as we learn more. Until then, here’s a look at some of the cast and crew from Blades of the Guardians: (via Chinese Entertainment News):

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Honestly, I’m more excited about Kara’s return than Jet’s. But it’s a cool cast overall.
And isn’t that Wu Bin in this pic?

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A great hat speaks for itself! First look at Wu Jing in ‘Blades of the Guardians’ also starring Nic Tse and Jet Li

Posted on November 20, 2025 by JJ Bona

Legendary Hong Kong filmmaker and action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (In the Line of Duty 4, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II) is currently hard-at-work directing Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2) and Nicolas Tse (Customs Frontline) in Blades of the Guardians, a live-action adaptation of the Chinese comic book of the same name from Mandarin Motion Pictures.

After rumors circulating across every media source, it has been confirmed that Jet Li (League of Gods) will co-star, which will mark Li’s first film appearance since 2020’s Mulan.

Additionally, Yu Rongguang (New Police Story), Tony Leung Ka-fai (Hidden Blade) and Kara Hui (Sakra) are attached to the film.

The story takes place in 607 AD, when people live under the rule of the harsh Emperor Yang Guang. A highly skilled guard is traveling across a desert while being chased by the emperor’s soldiers. Along the way, he takes a job to protect someone on a journey to the great city of Chang’an. He thinks it will be easy, but new dangers rise up, and he soon uncovers a shocking secret.

We’ll keep you updated on Blades of the Guardians as we learn more. Until then, here’s a look at some of the cast and crew, Teaser Poster, as well as the first image of Wu Jing from the film (via MAAC):

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# Four generations of Chinese kung fu stars join together for ‘Blades of the Guardians’

By Zhang Rui
China.org.cn

January 19, 2026

Four generations of Chinese kung fu actors, including Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Jet Li, have joined legendary martial arts filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping for “Blades of the Guardians,” set to release during China’s Spring Festival in February.

A poster for “Blades of the Guardians.” [Photo courtesy of Woo Ping Pictures]

Distributors announced the release date and details on Monday for what is set to be the only major wuxia action blockbuster of the 2026 Spring Festival film season. Promising a visually and audibly breathtaking experience, the film blends the timeless spirit of kung fu heroism with an intense action aesthetic.

Adapted from Xu Xianzhe’s comic books, the film follows Daoma, the “second most-wanted fugitive,” who accepts a mission to escort the “most-wanted fugitive,” Zhi Shilang, to Chang’an, capital of the Sui dynasty, which is now Xi’an, Shaanxi province. This perilous journey draws multiple factions into conflict across the desert. Daoma, with his adoptive son Xiaoqi and allies A-Yuya and A-Ni, joins forces with the enigmatic Shu and Yanzi Niang. Together, this unlikely band must outrun relentless pursuers and overcome their own divisions on a mission that could shatter the empire’s foundations.

The director is Yuen Woo-ping, a foundational figure in Chinese action cinema for half a century, hailed as the “world’s premier martial arts choreographer.” Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has served as action director on over fifty films including “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Kung Fu Hustle,” “The Grandmaster,” and “The Matrix” trilogy. His craftsmanship has defined the aesthetic of Chinese martial arts cinema.

The film features a huge gathering of Chinese martial artists and action stars, from Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung, Yu Shi, Max Zhang, Ci Sha, and Yu Rongguang to the legendary Jet Li.

To capture the purest wuxia essence, the creators insisted on practical filming for all major action scenes. Actors performed horseback chases, close combat, and weapon fights themselves after months of rigorous training. To capture the rugged texture of the Western Regions, the crew filmed on location in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Actors endured harsh conditions like intense sun and sandstorms with full dedication. The setting resulted in immersive visuals of rolling sand dunes and the backdrop of the vast Gobi landscape.

“Blades of the Guardians” will hit Chinese screens nationwide on Feb. 17, the first day of the lucrative Spring Festival holiday.

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That was AWESOME.

Wuxia is back, baby. Warring clans, filial piety, honor, betrayal, protecting the weak, and of course, vengeance. Bloody, bloody vengeance. So many cold weapons - swords, spears, melon hammers, retractable wolverine claws, hard whips, bows, arrows, axes, axes chainlinked to flying claws - Yuen Woo-ping directing cold weapon fights with Wu Jing? Yes please. There’s a lot of very panoramic scenes of exotic desert landscapes. Shot in IMAX and I would’ve loved to have seen it so. Jet delivers a nice opening fight, but make no mistake, this is a Wu Jing film.

I cannot think of a better way for me to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse.

See it on the big screen if you can.

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Our exclusive review. READ Blades of the Guardians: Wuxia Gone Wild by Gene Ching

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# Yuen Woo-ping discusses new movie, kung fu cinema legacy

By Zhang Rui and Fu Junhua
March 25, 2026

In early 2026, the wuxia blockbuster “Blades of the Guardians” ignited audiences’ enthusiasm with a breathtaking audio-visual experience, blending the timeless spirit of kung fu heroism with hard-hitting, intense action.

Adapted from the popular comic series by Xu Xianzhe, the film is directed by the “world’s premier martial arts choreographer” Yuen Woo-ping, a foundational figure in Chinese action cinema for half a century. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has served as action director on over 50 films including “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Kung Fu Hustle,” “The Grandmaster” and “The Matrix” trilogy.

“As my generation gets older, a new one is ready to take over,” he told China.org.cn in an exclusive interview. “Sometimes I do wonder: Who’s going to carry it forward? Kung fu and wuxia films must be carried on, because they are unique to China. You don’t find it anywhere else. It is our responsibility to pass on this legacy of excellence.”

“Blades of the Guardians” follows Daoma, the “second most-wanted fugitive,” who accepts a mission to escort the “most-wanted fugitive,” Zhi Shilang, to Chang’an, capital of the Sui dynasty (581-618). This perilous journey draws multiple factions into conflict across the desert. Daoma, along with Xiaoqi and allies A-Yuya and A-Ni, joins forces with the enigmatic Shu and Yanzi Niang. Together, this unlikely band must outrun relentless pursuers and overcome their own divisions on a mission.

“Blades of the Guardians” brings together a star-studded lineup of four generations of Chinese martial artists and action icons, from Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Yosh Yu, Chen Lijun, Cisha, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Max Zhang and Yu Rongguang to the legendary Jet Li.

To capture the true essence of wuxia, the creators insisted on filming practical stunts for all the major action scenes. In order to present the rugged texture of the Western Regions, the crew filmed on location in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with actors enduring harsh conditions such as intense sun and sandstorms.

For Yuen, “Blades of the Guardians” is very different from the films he has made before. “I wanted a tougher core, a harder edge. I wanted to use that tougher energy and style to create a different kind of wuxia cinema,” he said

The director also praised actor and executive producer Wu Jing’s ideas and involvement, which helped the film resonate more with younger audiences.

The film has grossed more than 1.39 billion yuan in China and received positive feedback from critics and audiences overseas after hitting foreign markets.

Audiences noticed that at the end of the film, in an easter egg scene, a line of dialogue is delivered: “From now on, this belongs to the young people.”

“It really does belong to the younger generation now,” the 80-year-old filmmaker said. “For people my age, we will keep making films as long as we’re able. But it’s time to pass the baton.”

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Martial Arts Epic ‘Blades of the Guardians’ Smashes All-Time Box Office Record

Still from Blades of the GuardiansWell Go USA

By Jonathan Fuge

Published Apr 2, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT

Jonathan Fuge is a writer and editor at MovieWeb. A Film Studies graduate and all-round movie lover, he has written for a variety of different entertainment websites before finding a home at MovieWeb.

After making its debut in February and bringing a beloved action movie icon back to the big screen in the process, this year’s martial arts epic Blades of the Guardians has now smashed an all-time box office record. Directed by Yuen Woo Ping, the action maestro behind Kill Bill, The Matrix, Kung Fu Hustle, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Blades of the Guardians has been met with critical acclaim and has now proven that audiences are eager for more expertly crafted martial arts action epics.

Playing out like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by way of Mad Max: Fury Road, Blades of the Guardiansdrops us into the desert, where many groups, including Swordsman, the government, and Western Clans, are fighting for power. Our protagonist is Dao Ma, a famous bounty hunter, who takes a job to protect a man on the long road to the city of Chang ‘an. However, he discovers the person he is protecting is the empire’s most wanted man, and now every greedy faction is hunting them, and a deadly battle for the prize begins.

Applying wuxia style to George Miller’s Academy Award-winning post-apocalyptic action thriller, and based on the comic of the same name by Xianzhe Xu, Blades of the Guardians is largely made up of one unending battle across the desert as the bounty hunter and his asset fight to survive. Bringing together an outstanding multi-generational martial arts and action cast led by Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior), Nicholas Tse (Raging Fire), Yosh Yu (Creation of the Gods Trilogy), Tony Leung Ka Fai (The Shadow’s Edge), and Max Zhang (Ip Man 3), as well as the exciting comeback of Jet Li (Hero), Blades of the Guardians has now become the highest-grossing wuxia movie of all time.

Trinity CineAsia confirmed Blades of the Guardians’ victory, confirming that the martial arts movie has now surpassed the Academy Award-winning 2000 smash hit, and Yuen Woo Ping’s own, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to be crowned “the No.1 highest-grossing wuxia film of all time worldwide!” While the specific figures have not yet been released, this means that Blades of the Guardians, which had earned approximately $198.8 million as per the most recent reports, has now overtaken Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s worldwide total of $214 million.

Jet Li in Blades of the GuardiansWell Go USA

The success of Blades of the Guardians is great to see, but not hugely surprising, as word of mouth has been exceptional. The action epic now stands at a hugely impressive, and near-perfect, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and received the same score from audiences on the Popcornmeter. Hailed as a “martial arts masterpiece,” as well as being “Akin to live anime spectacle!,” and a “true classic in the spirit of traditional martial arts cinema" that "delivers beautifully choreographed fight scenes and stunning action. A powerful and visually impressive wuxia film,” the record-breaking box office success yielded by Blades of the Guardians can only be good news for the wuxia genre. However, while it may have now surpassed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, it’s worth noting that Ang Lee’s martial arts classic had a budget of just $17 million, while Blades of the Guardians is considerably more at around $123 million. So, there’s still a way to go before it reaches the same accomplishment in that regard.

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OK so where is it streaming?!?

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I don’t know that it is streaming anywhere beyond the dark web yet. Stay tuned. I’m sure it’ll stream somewhere soon…

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