A major initiative to restore classic martial arts films featuring stars such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee using artificial intelligence was announced at the Shanghai International Film Festival. The Jackie Chan AI-powered kung fu film restoration project, led by the China Film Foundation and its partners, will digitally remaster 100 iconic kung fu movies and signals a bold leap in preserving and revitalizing Chinese film heritage for a worldwide audience.
AI to Breathe New Life into Martial Arts Cinema
At the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, the China Film Foundation revealed that AI technology will be harnessed to digitally enhance and restore the image, sound, and overall production quality of 100 classic martial arts movies. This large-scale undertaking aims not only to improve technical aspects but also to honor the original artistry and storytelling that have defined Chinese kung fu cinema for decades.
The plan is presented as a far-reaching commitment to celebrating and protecting the cinematic legacy of martial arts filmmaking in China.
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 China Film Foundation chair Zhang Qilin.
They are our cinematic calling cards to the world.
Key Films and Industry Investment Announced
Among the titles slated for digital revival are Fist of Fury, The Big Boss, Once Upon a Time in China, and Drunken Master. According to Tian Ming, chair of Canxing Media, a select ten films from the 100 will receive immediate focus as part of the project’s first phase, backed by a significant investment of 100 million RMB (approximately $13.9 million).
Tian described the fusion of technology and artistry at the core of this initiative:
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.
Unveiling ‘A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border’—A Fully AI-Created Feature
The event also saw the world premiere of A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border, an animated feature inspired by John Woo’s crime classic but reimagined within a cyberpunk universe. Produced by Quantum Animation, this film was crafted entirely using an integrated AI production workflow, covering every stage from initial scripting to 3D modeling, animation, and final rendering.
Producer Zhang Qing noted the radical efficiency this new process enabled:
This entire animated feature was made by just 30 people,
he said.
AI has collapsed the barrier between creativity and execution. The production cycle has gone from years to months.
Cyber Border is promoted as a proof-of-concept for reshaping Chinese genre storytelling, blending martial arts influences with futuristic elements and new digital production pipelines. Zhang Qing also challenged the country’s creative community to develop original interactive content:
Why are the world’s biggest fighting games not Chinese, when they all borrow Chinese moves?
he asked.
We need to build the next Street Fighter from our own IPs like Wong Fei-hung and Nezha.
Policy Backing and Expansion of Industry-Academia Collaboration
Throughout the event, support from government regulatory bodies was highlighted as crucial for responsible AI integration in the media sector. He Tao, a representative from the National Radio and Television Administration’s research center, pointed to recent policy advances, including 2023’s Generative AI Services management measures and new 2025 rules on labeling AI-produced content.
AI is not a tool—it is a new infrastructure,
He said.
It’s transforming screenwriting, effects, dubbing, and distribution. In short films and micro-dramas, AI has already become standard.
In tandem with the restoration and animation efforts, a new Industry-Academia-Research Center in Shanghai was introduced as a hub for training and experimentation, alongside facilities in Xi’an, Wuhan, and Xiamen. According to officials, advancements such as national render farms in Guizhou have dramatically accelerated visual effects production times, shortening previously year-long processes to a single day.
Honoring Martial Arts Cinema’s Legacy and Future
The ceremony concluded with tributes to industry icons, including action talent Yu Rongguang, screenwriter Zhang Tan, and producer Yuan Hong, all of whom were acknowledged for their lasting influence on the kung fu film tradition. Yuan expressed a lifelong dedication:
I’ve spent 40 years doing nothing but kung fu films,
Yuan said.
If I have any strength left, I’ll dedicate it to this plan.
Zhang Tan underscored the enduring values at the heart of the genre:
Kung fu films are about growth, spirit, and dignity. With AI, we’re not erasing the past— we’re giving it a second wind.
The launch of the Jackie Chan AI-powered kung fu film restoration project demonstrates a powerful blend of cultural ambition, technological innovation, and global outreach. With AI technology now at the service of both classic cinema revival and pioneering animated works, figures like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Jet Li may once again captivate new audiences, as Shanghai positions itself at the forefront of the next evolution in martial arts storytelling.
