“Ne Zha 2” is returning to theaters.
A24, the beloved arthouse behind “The Brutalist” and “Queer” (among many others), and Chinese company CMC Pictures are teaming up on an English-language version of “Ne Zha 2,” the Chinese box office hit. The newly re-released “NE ZHA 2” will hit theaters in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand starting August 22nd. This version will also be presented in IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats.
The English-speaking cast will be led by “everything everywhere at once” Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh.
“NE Zha 2” was released on January 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, and has grossed over $2.2 billion worldwide. A sequel to 2019’s “NE Zha,” it is based on the Chinese mythological character, along with Xu Zhonglin’s 16th-century novel “Investor of the Gods,” and written and directed by Yang Yu. According to A24’s official statement, the film is “considered a landmark in modern animation—merging emotionally resonant storytelling, mythological spectacle, and cutting-edge visual artistry. Building on the legacy of its groundbreaking predecessor, the film introduces a new chapter to the legend of Ne Zha.”
Additionally, the film is the highest-rated animated film of the year on Rotten Tomatoes and one of the highest-rated films of the year on Letterboxd. Besides being the highest-grossing animated film of all time, it became the highest-grossing non-English language film and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time . Any way you slice it, its success is impressive.
“I’m honored to be a part of ‘Ne Zha 2,’ a milestone in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with English audiences is a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”
This will be A24’s first fully animated feature. (Its “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” released in 2022, was nominated for Best Animated Feature but was partially live-action.)
