First Teaser and Poster for Tsui Hark Directed Big Budget C-movie Legend of the Condor Heroes with Xiao Zhan and Zhuang Da Fei Harkens to the Beloved Classic 1984 TVB Version
Man, when the music played I just flashed way way back to the good old times of the golden era of TVB HK-dramas of the 1980’s. HK-director Tsui Hark is coming back with his take on Louis Cha‘s novel Legend of the Condor Heroes and all signs point to this being a HUGE movie. Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero has confirmed the premiere date on the first day of the new lunar new year in 2025, historically the most sought after day to release a movie in China. Tsui Hark brings his martial arts filmmaking experience of over 40 years to a refreshed take of this popular IP source material and this time with top Chinese actor Xiao Zhan as Guo Jing and actress Zhuang Da Fei as Huang Rong. It’s her casting that’s head scratching but I trust Tsui Hark if he picked her. The first poster and teaser is here and uses the same theme song of part 3 of the drama 1982 TVB version with Felix Wong and Barbara Yung so I love that, and it’s interesting that neither Xiao Zhan nor Zhuang Da Fei is shown (yet) but it’s a smart move to ratchet up further the excitement. This version is reportedly set in the battle to defend Xiangyang Castle.
Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero teaser:
No, this article is all kinds of wrong.
This is from the Legend of Condor Heroes and deals with the first defence of Xiangyang.
The leads are not married and have no kids. This concerns a section of text at the end of LOCH and has never been filmed before. Please don’t spread misinformation.
Can’t tell much from this 30s trailer but it does give off that old HK movies vibes. Hopefully they will screen overseas too.
It’s a concept trailer, which is different from even a teaser trailer. The old school feels is there to connect to what is known for promo. Who knows what the movie is actually like. Cent likes to copy and Tsui Hark won’t release anything until he has to, it’s too risky.
Movie has already acquired ww distribution.
Hopefully, they will also stick to the aesthetics of classic HK movies.
I like my heroes to look natural and manly, not like a troupe of white-powdered drag queens.
If the film is a success it just might change the trend of excessive filters and effeminate boys as leads.
xiao zhan is okay to be casted as the main lead. why will you say drag queens? chinese actors applied make up depends on the character they are portraying like in costume drama where they need to use wig since long hair is part of their ancestors tradition. it is in their culture. using long hair is very common in chinese production if the movie/drama is historical or fantasy. it actually depends on what country. your comment is like a hate campaign that give negative vibes to the movie. you are not very bright after all.
I’m a huge fan of Xiao Zhan. of course I’m so hyped up for this movie. from what I heard, it will
have a worldwide release.
I can’t wait to see it. Tsui Hark is one of my favorite directors and that he has chosen to adapt a small part of the text which gives him complete freedom to do whatever he likes is really exciting.
Overall those LOCH chapters are the most thrilling part of the book. I think it’s a mistake to think of this as a martial arts movie. It’s also a war movie. Enough information has leaked that it contains large scale battles.
It’s going to be difficult for both Xiao Zhan and Zhuang Dafei. They are both already being showered with black posts but many groups are deathly afraid of this movie doing well. It’s only going to get worse as we get closer to the spring festival. If the presales really take off, then I don’t dare imagine how far they may go. Hopefully China Film is ready.
sorry what do you mean by this? As ready to be criticised by public or under intense unfavourable scrutiny by public ?
@who did this
Black posts aren’t done by public or general audiences.
These are always done by either opposing fan groups or opposing productions. It ranges from black hot searches on Weibo to disseminating black (fake) material about the director and actors on social media. Tsui Hark has had some really nasty (fake) things written about him in the last few days. It’s a common unsavoury practice when these groups feel threatened by potential success or actual success. China Film has a legal department and they will have to take action in the worst of cases.
They choose Xiaozhan for this reason, big PR, its already spread everywhere like wildfire and so black material suddenly appeared, theres a lot people scared its gonna be explode, they said its gonna be flopped like his 1st movie and he will get another golden broom but we knew they all lie cause his 1st movie very successful with gaining 20 times revenue from its budget.
Oh, the good old 80s TVB feel! I miss those dramas.
Oh, I so wish I could watch this on the big screen. Very excited about it!
no worries, we will since this will be released in theatres worldwide this coming CNY 2025
Using the old music is a great idea. Built in nostalgia. The letters are cheesy.
Well, those letters are the original ones written by Jin Yong himself.
It’s not the font, it is the animation of how they popped up at the end wasn’t the best presentation of them. With AI, they could have been written out stroke by stroke.
Maybe it’s to keep the trailer to 30s? Anyway, the animation of the movie title is pretty minor to me, it’s not going to affect my decision on whether to watch it or not. ๐คฃ
@Guest
It’s just a concept trailer because they had to set the date now. We have to wait and see what the real thing looks like but I don’t think that’s likely any time soon. Probably late December earliest if even then.
@ Lilith @Sigh It’s all good, just a minor nitpick that has nothing to do the movie. I never implied that it would or should affect my choice on whether to watch.
Having feedback helps productions fine tune their projects. But my 1 off comment on a little known non-China based blog will never be read by anyone significant so it’s just a musing.
cheesy?? OMG! Jin Yong’s calligraphy is very well written. I rather that then a computer typeface.
If CCP were smart enough, this one classic film would be something to be actively promoted overseas since the hidden agenda of patriotism would be covered behind artistry but hinted intelligently. LOL.
I used to be a huge book fan of Louis Cha but have never watched any adaptations of his works. Xiangyang battles were quickly brushed before the main characters in the 2nd sequel got on stage. It gave such a vivid contrast in personalities between the heroes/heroines in the two books. So, I expect this film will be largely the creation of Director Tsui Hark more than an adaptation. The story is going to be his narratives. I hope Netflix will purchase streaming right to this film.
An article about the actor whom you proclaimed to be a fan of, but here you are, talking about CCP instead. Makes you look more like CCP’s fan than any celebrity’s ๐ Will you be watching this movie in the theaters at all if it does get an international release? Or will you be ranting on about CCP again?
LOL. I’m giving stupid CCP a smart suggestion so that their name may be improved overseas. Surely I’ll watch anything XZ is in. I can’t guarantee if I’m gonna only rave about his film without any critiques though. I don’t blindly worship him as a perfect god. LOL. But I have very high hope for this film of Director Tsui. As to CCP, I’m sure there’s always something about this regime to be critical of given its nature and true colors. LOL.
Just admit it, CCP has a stronghold on you. No normal person will think of mentioning unrelated people or things in an article about their favourite actor/actress.
@Lilith, then you obviously have a wrong interpretation of the word “stronghold.” I don’t believe in CCP in whatsoever. LOL.
Unrelated? Only ignoramuses who have been indoctrinated by CCP with brain fog would not recognize many recent C films including XZ’s movies have hidden agenda of CCP state propaganda. CCP have been aggressively tapping into celebrities’ fame and star power for political purposes. These C movies are agitprops per synopsis and how much CCTV has been promoting them. It’s no brainer to get the signals. LOL.
It’s missing a space due to typo, but they do have strong influence over you. Just look at how often you mention them here.
I look forward to your analysis on the propaganda this LOCH movie supposedly contains. Maybe you can start by sharing your take on other Chinese movies available on Netflix like Creation of the Gods and Jade Dynasty first?
@Lilith, you again and again have been presenting yourself as a loyal mouthpiece defending CCP. Fine that’s your freedom, just like my freedom to rebuke CCP. Critique C movies? LOL. I don’t even care about those works with low quality of artistry except for XZ’s movies! As to the Jade Dynasty, it’s not a well-made movie with many flaws although I could see that XZ made a lot of efforts to do his job and he still showed his potential in acting in that uninteresting movie, commercially successful or not.
I don’t need to squander time on your de-question further. Let’s call it a day and just give yourself a break from the combatting mode. LOL
If that’s called defending CCP then you must be part of CIA. You claimed that many recent C-films including XZ’s movies contain state propaganda, yet failed to point out any propaganda in Creation of the Gods and Jade Dynasty when asked. You have nothing to back up your empty claims and just look like those crazy US shills obsessed with smearing China online.
Again, I pity Xiao Zhan for getting targeted by anti-China keyboard warriors like you, pretending to be his fan while demeaning his projects and dragging politics into his articles, trying to get him into hot soup.
This is my favourite of Jin Yong’s sets of novel. I read this novel as a young child. I enjoyed a few drama adaptation but not a movie version.
I am looking forward to this. I am hoping Xiao Zhan’s entrance into movie world does not mean he will not be taking on dramas… I will end up seeing him less…
I don’t want XZ to be like Zhu Yi-Long. I have no idea how C-ent rewards drama actors vs. film actors. As to reputation, I personally don’t consider movie acting more noble than drama acting and movie actors mightier than drama actors. Unlike dramas that acting can make hits or duds, movies are mainly works of directors who have more weights and impacts on how product will be presented. I also think drama actors have larger fanbases and therefore, may give actors more endorsement deals. I hope XZ continues to get richer and make up what he has lost financially under sneaky contract with the current agency.
The LOCH series with Felix Wong is from 1983, not 1982. The film will get competition with the CNY release against Wuershen’s Creation of the Gods sequel. The first one was a hit last year and they have an equally star-studded cast.
They’re not telling the entire story since the focus is on the Battle of Xiangyang, which rarely gets adapted.
LOCH has the bigger gov’t backing since Tsui Hark is adapting a beloved Jin Yong work and the People’s Daily were the ones who showcased the trailer on Weibo.
Zhuang Dafei will be fine if the movie and her role as Huang Rong is well-received. She’s not exactly hurting in terms of projects and is currently working on her next film. Better her than a traffic actress who will milk the hot searches.
I’m hoping Tsui Hark is able to work miracles on Zhuang Dafei’s styling. Her previous costume drama stylings are less than desirable.
Creation of the Gods was anything but a hit. It barely broke even and even that is debatable because pretty solid sources say that it actually didn’t earn enough to cover the expenses considering some issues.
A hit would be a movie that has earned at least double its expenses.
The real earner here is Detective Chinatown 1900 that will probably be ready for the Spring Festival. Now its predecessor was a real, major hit with its 4.5 B box office and not COTG.
As for LOCH, the first battle of Xiangyang has never been adapted before. Whether the movie makes it or not remains to be seen, it’s on Tsui Hark who is both director and screenwriter.
Yeah, you reiterated my stancd about LOCH and the battle of Xiangyang. I know the dramas and movies never do this plot.
It may not be a hit in your eyes by box office numbers standards, the hype did resonate well with the Asian diaspora overseas and showed in other countries.
They got Fei Xiang back in the spotlight and young gun actors like Yu Shi shot up pretty well, given his (and Chen Muchi’s) controversies. I caught a screening when I was in France where the French audiences definitely enjoyed it.
They have plenty of awards nominations last year and considering it took 5 years to release the first film, it is considered a success.
@azn_sky
No, that’s not how that works, you don’t get to impose some arbitrary standards on movies because you like this particular one.
Everywhere in the world the success is looked through the box office and this particular movie barely managed to avoid being a flop. It just cleared that hurdle. It’s just reality and the upper poster is correct in their assessment.
It’s good you liked it, I hope you have a fun time with the second part but your personal experiences and wishes do not change the factual state of things.
@Zee
Imposing standards? You literally said yourself it barely passed being a flop, well NO DUH. I’ve seen enough to know it had feeds on Weibo have hyped up the sequel. You’re not educating anyone here.
You are also contradicting my initial post were I literally said it has competitor to the Feng Shen sequel and it does have anticipation. That’s a fact.
Detective Chinatown 1900 still has not released their materials.
I was in France for vacation and majority of them were non Chinese but filled out audiences. The marketing for them was to target audiences overseas too and it’s obtuse to think otherwise.
Azn sky
Are you not a native English speaker maybe?
The person is saying Fengshen wasn’t a hit (meaning it did passable).
You are saying Fengshen was a hit.
They aren’t saying Fengshen flopped. Just that it wasn’t a hit, like you are claiming. And they are right. It wasn’t a hit.
It’s irrelevant what you saw in cinema. In China, where it matters, it wasn’t received as well as they thought and hoped.
It also had a small international box office so your claim of some an international hit is also incorrect. There was some small interest.
I have no idea if you don’t understand or are pretending not to. Fengshen did passably in China which was very disappointing for its investors but overall, they still have hope. That is simple easy to verify truth.
It simply wasn’t a hit, sorry.