Stars Collective Film Entertainment Group has announced an ambitious animated film trilogy inspired by "Journey to the West," one of China's four great classical novels, during the opening day of Hong Kong FilMart.
The trilogy, which includes "Bajie," "Monkey King," and "Nezha," aims to introduce and broaden the reach of Eastern mythology to global audiences, capitalizing on the recent successes in this genre. This initiative comes as Eastern mythology gains popularity in the entertainment industry, highlighted by the video game "Black Myth: Wukong," which, based on Chinese mythology, has achieved record sales of 28 million copies (generating US$1.25 billion in revenue) since its release in August 2024.
Additionally, the animated film "Ne Zha 2," released during the Lunar New Year, has surpassed US$2 billion at the global box office.
Peter Luo, founder of Stars Collective, said, "Our 'Journey to the West' trilogy represents a new chapter in global storytelling. We're not just adapting a classic tale, we're revolutionizing how Eastern mythology can be presented on the world stage. Our mission is to create a cinematic experience that bridges cultures and generations, combining timeless storytelling with cutting-edge technology. This project marks a significant milestone in bringing authentic Chinese mythology to global audiences in ways they've never experienced before."
"Journey to the West," translated into over 40 languages, is likened to an Eastern blend of "The Odyssey" and "The Lord of the Rings," exploring the realms of gods, demons, and humans. The trilogy is currently in script development and is scheduled to begin production in 2026, utilizing AI-generated animation and motion capture to craft a hyper-realistic mythological universe. "Bajie" will be the first installment in the series.
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