China Film Foundation announces AI-powered animated remake of Chow Yun Fat’s classic 'A Better Tomorrow'

Unveiled at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June, the remake reimagines the iconic anti-hero, originally portrayed by Chow Yun Fat, as a cyberpunk character. Dubbed "the world’s first full-process, AI-produced animated feature film," according to The Hollywood Reporter, the project represents a groundbreaking integration of technology and storytelling.

Woo, director of the original film, stated that he was not consulted on the remake, noting that the rights to the movie have changed hands multiple times. "I wasn’t really involved in the project because I’m not very familiar with AI technology," Woo told The Times. "However, I’m very curious about the outcome and the effect it might have on my original film."

In addition to the "A Better Tomorrow" remake, the China Film Foundation plans to use AI to rejuvenate 100 other kung fu classics, including "Police Story," "Once Upon a Time in China," and "Fist of Fury," which feature Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Lee.

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat. Photo from Instagram

It aims to reintroduce these classics to younger global audiences, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. "By empowering cultural storytelling with technology, we can breathe new life into the classics and tell China’s stories farther and louder," said Zhang Pimin, chairman of the China Film Foundation.

He emphasized that AI’s involvement would refresh these "aesthetic historical treasures" to match contemporary film tastes, calling the project both "film heritage" and "a brave exploration of the innovative development of film art."

Tian Ming, chairman of project partner Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media, assured that the project would "pay tribute to the original work" while "reshaping the visual aesthetics."

Tian also announced a fund of 100 million yuan (US$13.9 million) to support the initiative with partnerships from Film and Urban Development Special Fund, and Quantum Animation.

The announcement has attracted attention for its potential to expand China’s cultural influence globally using AI. Supporters of the project highlight AI’s role in disrupting traditional filmmaking processes. The remake of "A Better Tomorrow," completed with just 30 people, showcases AI’s efficiency compared to the much larger teams typically required for traditional animation projects.