'True Education': Kim Mu Yeol & team to teach hard lesson to those undermining the education system
Four films have been officially announced for the upcoming Lunar New Year period. Blades of the Guardians is one of these films attracting a lot of attention for China’s Spring Festival box office showdown. A trailer and more information have been released, whereby Wu Jing can be seen in several promotional videos emphasising a collaborative martial arts feast created by five generations.
Yuen Woo Ping is a world-renowned senior action and stunt director who has choreographed countless classic action sequences and is responsible for shaping decades of martial arts in global cinema. A career spanning more than sixty years has allowed global audiences to witness the genius of this legendary martial arts veteran as action director for over fifty films, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix Trilogy. Blades of the Guardians, encompassing five generations of action stars and legends, is attributed to Yuen Woo Ping's primary involvement.
Many famous action stars familiar to the audience have collaborated with him. Hailed as the "world's premier martial arts choreographer" who has redefined martial arts for Chinese cinema, this legendary heavyweight filmmaker has directed yet another action blockbuster at the age of 80, naturally resulting in eager anticipation from generations of movie fans.
When Wu Jing starred in the 1998 TV series The Tai Chi Master for his debut, one of the directors was Yuen Woo Ping. Director Yuen has also collaborated significantly with Jet Li, such as personally directing the 1993 classic kungfu movie Tai Chi Master, which has aired countless times on television. Master Z: Yip Man Legacy, starring Zhang Jin, was also directed by him. Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen will not be further mentioned here, since they did not participate in this film.
News about the recent death of Hong Kong action star Bruce Leung Siu Lung has made people realise that collaborations between action stars and filmmakers of all generations are incredibly rare. Leung Siu Lung is a few years younger than action star and martial artist Ti Lung. Both action stars are recognised as part of the "Four Dragons of Chinese Cinema" alongside Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, and Ti Lung is almost the same age as Yuen Woo Ping.
The number of action filmmakers from this generation who can continue to make films is decreasing. Several generations of action stars rubbing more than shoulders in this big-budget wuxia movie is slated to be a masterpiece of this era.
When evaluating the achievements of martial arts veteran Yuen Woo Ping, the action star in this film with higher achievements and global popularity naturally goes to film and television superstar Jet Li, who is more than 60-years-old.
Judging by recently released behind-the-scenes videos, Wu Jing admits his senior, Jet Li, is still very fast. As the producer and leading actor of this movie, born in the 1970s, Wu Jing has gathered numerous stars with martial arts filmography to create and complete a rare agreement of the century. He is naturally the backbone of this collaboration. Major twists and turns were encountered during the process of filming, such as controversy over the replacement of important roles. It was not easy to have this movie released in time for the Lunar New Year Period of 2026.
Other than Jet Li and Wu Jing as action stars in this movie, Zhang Jin is the same age as Wu Jing. He is a veteran in wushu and has participated in various competitions. After retirement in those areas, he has worked as a stand-in and martial arts instructor for the well-known Hong Kong action film creation team comprising Yuen Siu Tien's children. Yuen Woo Ping's father, Yuen Siu Tie,n is also infamous with martial arts lovers, for iconic roles such as Beggar So from the 1978 movies Drunken Master and Snake In The Eagle's Shadow. Zhang Jin's performances in the 2013 movie The Grandmaster and the 2015 movie Ip Man 3 are significantly notable, and his involvement as an antagonist will further enhance the hard-hitting physicality of this blockbuster.
The second leading actor after Wu Jing in this film is Nicholas Tse. Born in the 1980s to a family of celebrities, the evolving milestones of his entertainment career make him suitable for this action-focused movie. Five years ago, he starred in Raging Fire, engaging in a fierce, intense exchange with Donnie Yen. From the recently released behind-the-scenes footage and stills, he and Wu Jing share palpable chemistry in their fighting styles when duelling.
Within the new generation of idols born in the 1990s, Yu Shi and Ci Sha also hold leading roles in Blades of the Guardians. Yu Shi's popularity also stems from the two movies pertaining to Creations of the Gods. Ci Sha conveyed dual roles in the high-profile 2025 action blockbuster The Shadow’s Edge while showcasing his potential in expanding possibilities.
In The Shadow’s Edge, 70-year-old Tony Leung Ka Fai executed a murderously swift volley of moves against Jackie Chan in a harrowing knife fight, leaving the audience on edge in their seats. When author Xu Xian Zhe was sketching and envisioning the protagonist Dao Ma, his first inspiration was Tony Leung Ka Fai. Tony Leung Ka Fai, Jet Li, Sammo Hung, and Yu Rong Guang have special guest roles in Blades of the Guardians, and as to their significance, the audience will have to watch to find out.
Chen Li Jun, Li Yun Xiao, and Kara Wai Ying Hung are vibrant roses amongst the pillars of this testosterone-packed movie, but the roots and thorns of their capabilities are not to be underestimated.
Last but not least, the character wearing a mask throughout this entire movie is the unfathomable Zhi Shi Lang, an important leading role wielded by Sean Sun Yi Zhou. Fans of the original work will have their own beliefs as to the suitability of artists for different characters, and this movie will be a test of whether those beliefs can be matched or exceeded.
Enduring harsh sun-baked dunes and sandstorms of the Gobi Desert alongside other locations within the autonomous Xinjiang Uygur region, all participants had to be ready for gruelling skirmishes, horseback chases, and fight scenes after several months of rigorous training in preparation for certain sequences. As a tribute to authenticity, no stone was left unturned for full immersion, to capture the exacting energy and visuals of what might be Yuen Woo Ping’s final film as a director.
A rare combination of fresh energy and seasoned professionalism steeped in deep reverence for wuxia traditions to create a vision born of legends in action cinema, this atomic convergence of star-studded generational talents acknowledging deep cultural roots to birth a unique wuxia film for future generations promises to be explosive and timeless.
Adapted from the manhua Blades of the Guardians (镖人) by Xu Xian Zhe (许先哲), legendary escort Dao Ma accepts a mission to deliver the mysterious Zhi Shi Lang to Chang'an, imperial capital of the Sui dynasty. This perilous journey sees multiple factions engaged in various conflicts across the desert. Dao Ma and his adopted son Xiao Qi, alongside A Yu Ya and A Ni, enter a necessary alliance with the enigmatic Shu and Yan Zi Niang. As alliances shift, secrets unravel, and choices become difficult, Dao Ma is forced to reveal who he is. This unlikely band must outsmart ruthless pursuers and vanquish their own divisions to shape destiny, whereby the success or failure of this mission could redefine the heart of an empire.
Blades of the Guardians airs nationwide on screens in China and countries such as Malaysia on February 17, the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Source: CTGN, qq.com, China.org.cn, tgv.com
