The martial arts stars Jet Li and Wu Jing are returning to the big screen in a new historical action film. Well Go USA Entertainment confirmed it has bought the North American rights for Blades of the Guardians, which arrives in cinemas on February 17.
The film features some of the biggest names in the history of martial arts cinema. Yuen Woo-ping directs the project. You likely know his work from the fight choreography in The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
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Wu Jing, known for the Wolf Warrior series, produced the film and stars alongside Jet Li. The cast also includes Nicholas Tse and Yosh Yu, plus pop stars Jun from Seventeen and Winwin from NCT. This mix of veteran actors and younger idols has already created significant interest online.
Survival in the desert
The story takes place during China’s Sui Dynasty. It follows a mercenary named Biao Ren who travels across the dangerous deserts of the Western Regions.
What starts as a simple job to escort a prisoner becomes a much larger problem. Biao Ren discovers his passenger is the most wanted man in the empire, leading to a long pursuit across the wilderness. The writers describe it as a “road movie” that focuses on physical combat.
Physical stunts over digital effects
Unlike many modern blockbusters, this film prioritizes real stunts. The production team focused on close-quarters fighting where the impact feels real. They wanted to show the physical strain on the characters.
Doris Pfardrescher, the head of Well Go USA, believes the film will find a wide audience. “Blades of the Guardians is a sweeping action epic led by legends of the genre,” she said. “With Yuen Woo-ping’s masterful direction and an extraordinary ensemble led by Wu Jing and Jet Li, the film delivers high-intensity action on a grand scale.”
The distributor specializes in bringing independent and international films to North American theaters. This release will be available in both the U.S. and Canada.
