Two Asian men in martial arts poses, one wearing sportswear and the other jerseyless with a black glove. — Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan return with AI-made remakes | La Derecha Diario

Camara — Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan return with AI-made remakes | La Derecha Diario

Controversy: China remakes Bruce Lee's and Jackie Chan's movies with AI

China relaunches 100 kung fu classics with AI, including works by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Tribute or threat to cinema?

23/06/2025 11:20:00h

Editorial Team

The legends of cinema kung-fu, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, will be the protagonists of an ambitious initiative that seeks to revive classics with artificial intelligence.

The proposal has already sparked controversy in the audiovisual industry, between those who see it as innovation and those who fear the loss of the human touch.

Shirtless man performing a high kick in a room with a bed and wooden furniture

The proposal has already sparked controversy in the audiovisual industry | La Derecha Diario

Remakes with AI? Classic kung-fu is reinvented in China

During the Shanghai International Film Festival, Chinese studios announced the restoration of 100 classic films of the genre.

The project is called Kung Fu Film Heritage. It aims to revitalize films such as "Fists of Fury", "Drunken Master", and "Once Upon a Time in China", icons of the legacy of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li.

AI as an ally to update martial arts cinema gems

According to Zhang Pimin, from the China Film Foundation, the use of AI will allow the visual language of these classics to be adjusted for today's audiences.

An autonomous artificial intelligence with lights and cables connected to its head.

The use of AI will allow the visual language of these classics to be adjusted for today's audience | La Derecha Diario

It's not just about improving image quality: an aesthetic reinterpretation of the original films is also planned.

First 100% AI-animated feature film: a step further

The initiative includes a new version of "A Better Tomorrow", directed by John Woo, with a cyberpunk aesthetic and a production fully animated with AI.

Man with sunglasses lighting a burning bill to use it as a cigar

The initiative includes a new version of "A Better Tomorrow" | La Derecha Diario

This marks a milestone in the film industry, as it becomes the first feature film of its kind caused entirely with artificial intelligence.

"Subverting tradition": the goal of the new digital era

For Tian Ming, a key figure in the project, the goal is to generate a cinematic revolution that combines cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology.

The new versions will seek to be a tribute, but also a redesign that transforms the classics into something novel.

Young man with long hair dressed in traditional Chinese clothing holding a fan decorated with a dragon while striking a martial arts pose in an ancient interior

The new versions will aim to be a tribute | La Derecha Diario

Innovation or threat to creativity?

The initiative arrives at a tense moment for the audiovisual industry, with unions denouncing the risks of generative AI in artistic production.

Director Tim Burton described these practices as "disturbing," while others, such as Zack Snyder, call for embracing AI as a creative ally.

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