A24 and CMC Pictures have scheduled an August 22 release in North America, Australia and New Zealand for the English-language version of Ne Zha 2, the Chinese phenomenon that on $2.2bn has flown higher than any other film at the global box office so far this year.
The new version of the animated fantasy adventure will feature Michelle Yeoh, who won the Oscar for A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once. It will screen in Imax, 3D and other premium large formats (PLF), and Screen understands the North American release will roll out on more than 2,000 screens.
Yang Yu’s film caused a sensation when it opened earlier this year and ranks as the highest-grossing animation and non-English language film of all time, and the fifth highest-grossing film ever. It also became the first film to cross $1bn in a single market, China.
A24’s involvement stems from its relationships with Asian companies through its international operation. CMC released the film in North America in February and it earned $20.9m. The partnership with A24 has the added bonus of Imax and PLF to entice new audiences and may lead to an awards campaign, although A24 declined to comment.
Ne Zha 2 continues the adventures of the rebellious boy with huge powers from the first feature in 2019, and follows the youngster as he faces an ancient force hellbent on destroying humanity.
Yeoh, whose credits include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Sunshine, Crazy Rich Asians and the Wicked films, called Ne Zha 2 “a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be”.
As the largest global distributor of Chinese films, CMC Pictures’ network spans 100 countries and 500 cities, and its more than 100 releases include The Wandering Earth series, the Detective Chinatown films, and Ip Man 4. It has produced or co-produced The Meg films and Last Days, among others.
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