A new project aims to revive classic Kung Fu films using AI... Is this the future of cinema or a warning sign?
At this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival, Chinese studios unveiled a bold and controversial new venture: using artificial intelligence to remake 100 classic martial arts films.
Dubbed the “Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project 100 Classics AI Revitalization Project”, the initiative plans to digitally reimagine iconic works from legends like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and John Woo.
Among the titles named are Bruce Lee’s Fists of Fury (1972), Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master (1978), and Jet Li’s Once Upon a Time in China (1991).
Perhaps the most debated element?
A cyberpunk-inspired remake of A Better Tomorrow (1986), touted as “the world’s first full-process, AI-produced animated feature film.”
“A Brave Exploration”Or A Deepfake Disaster?
According to Zhang Pimin of the China Film Foundation, the project aims to "transform aesthetic historical treasures" into a format more appealing to contemporary audiences.
“It is not only film heritage,” Zhang said at the announcement, “but also a brave exploration of the innovative development of film art.”Tian Ming, chairman of project partner Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media, said the initiative will “reshape the visual aesthetics” of martial arts cinema and demonstrate upgrades in image, sound, and production quality.
A fund of 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) has been established to launch the project, with international AI companies being invited to participate.
But not everyone is celebrating.
The Internet Has Opinions...
Online reactions have been rather negative.
Some film fans welcome the idea of using AI, but only to enhance overall quality, without changing the film itself.
They could see it being used for improvement of image quality, improving outdated CGI, or clean up color and sound.
"If you can bring the quality up to modern standards, that would be really awesome in getting an entirely new generation to see these masterpieces",
one comment read.
Another likes the idea but proposes a non-negotiable rule:
“Sounds cool. AI content should be free though. If they're trying to charge money for these remakes, China should get sued by current standards.”
Others express serious concern and even ridicule:
“If it's just to give everything a plastic AI look... they can F’ off."
Concerns About Legacy
The debate surrounding AI-generated performances isn't new – but the fact that some of the actors being recreated are still alive must make it very weird for them to witness.
Jackie Chan and Jet Li, both global icons, continue to work in the film industry.
Recasting them with algorithms while they're still around feels, to many, premature – if not disrespectful.
The use of AI to resurrect the late Bruce Lee raises even deeper concerns.
Lee’s legacy is tightly guarded, both by his family and a global fan base that sees him not just as a performer, but as a philosopher and cultural symbol.
Turning him into an AI avatar – without him being able to consent to it – risks reducing that legacy to digital mimicry and going against what he might have wanted.
Without even going into the legal complications, it seems ethically... questionable.
A Fight For What’s Real
Martial arts cinema thrives on physicality. On real bodies pushing the limits of human ability.
Critics argue that AI, no matter how advanced, can’t replicate the grit, grace, or unpredictability of a live-action fight scene.
To some, it feels like a betrayal of the very craft that made these films iconic in the first place.
One commenter asked bluntly, “Why not just make new movies with new, talented actors and get less backlash for it?”
Remake Or New Ideas?
What China’s AI kung fu project ultimately represents is a philosophical crossroads for the global film industry.
Do we use new technology to keep revisiting the past, no matter the implications behind it? Or do we take the risk of it flopping and build something entirely new?
What kind of future do you want for cinema: one that revives legends – or one that makes room for new ones? Tell us in the comments!