A24 and CMC Pictures have teamed up to bring the English-language version of Ne Zha 2 to U.S. theaters.
According to Deadline, the dubbed version of Ne Zha 2 will be released in theaters across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand starting August 22, and will be presented in IMAX, 3D, and other premium large formats.
It is reported that Michelle Yeoh will voice a role in the English-language version. In a statement, Yeoh said, “I’m honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be.”
Yeoh added, “Sharing this with audiences in English is such 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.”
The film is a direct sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha, written and directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiaozi). It is based on the Chinese mythological character and Xu Zhonglin’s 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi).
Here are the plot details for Ne Zha 2:
After a great catastrophe, the souls of Nezha and Aobing are saved, but their bodies are destroyed. To give them new life, Taiyi Zhenren turns to the mystical seven-colored lotus in a daring attempt to rebuild them and change their fate.
Ne Zha 2 is now the world’s top-grossing animated film of all time, following its release earlier this year during China’s Lunar New Year holiday. The film has earned a massive $2.2 billion, surpassing Pixar’s Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion) at the worldwide box office. It is also the fifth-highest-grossing film worldwide overall, with nearly all of its revenue coming from the Chinese mainland.
The A24-CMC partnership will serve as a litmus test for the U.S. market’s appetite for Chinese storytelling, as well as the strategic potential of crossover animation when backed by a strong mix of talent and scale.
