Stars Collective Film Entertainment Group is mounting an ambitious animated film trilogy based on “Journey to the West,” one of China’s four great classical novels, the company revealed on the first day of Hong Kong FilMart.
The trilogy — comprising “Bajie,” “Monkey King” and “Nezha” — aims to introduce and expand Eastern mythology to global audiences, building on recent successes in the space. The project comes as Eastern mythology continues gaining traction in entertainment, with video game ”Black Myth: Wukong,” which is based on Chinese mythology, hitting record-breaking sales of 28 million copies ($1.25 billion in revenue) since its August 2024 release, while Lunar New Year release “Ne Zha 2” has passed $2 billion at the global box office.
“Journey to the West,” which has been translated into more than 40 languages, is described as an Eastern fusion of “The Odyssey” and “The Lord of the Rings,” spanning realms of gods, demons and humans. Currently in script development, the trilogy is set to commence production in 2026, using AI-generated animation and motion capture to create a hyper-realistic mythological world. “Bajie” will lead the series as the first production.
A cornerstone of Chinese literature, “Journey to the West” follows the adventures of the mischievous Monkey King, Sun Wukong, as he escorts the Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang on a perilous pilgrimage to India, battling demons and seeking enlightenment along the way.
Each film aims to deeply explore iconic characters from the classic text. “Bajie” will break traditional stereotypes by exploring Marshal Tianpeng’s fall to the mortal realm, revealing the loyalty and sacrifice behind his seemingly carefree demeanor.
“Monkey King” centers on “The True and False Monkey King” narrative, using the Six-Eared Macaque as a mirror metaphor for Sun Wukong’s transformation from the “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” to the “Victorious Fighting Buddha.”
“Nezha” explores the tragic fate of “cutting flesh to return to his mother, and removing bones to return to his father,” examining themes of rebellion and redemption. The film reimagines Nezha’s “Three Heads and Six Arms” combat aesthetics through Zen Buddhist philosophy.
Peter Luo, founder of Stars Collective, said: “Our ‘Journey to the West’ trilogy represents a new chapter in global storytelling. We’re not just adapting a classic tale, we’re revolutionizing how Eastern mythology can be presented on the world stage. Our mission is to create a cinematic experience that bridges cultures and generations, combining timeless storytelling with cutting-edge technology. This project marks a significant milestone in bringing authentic Chinese mythology to global audiences in ways they’ve never experienced before.”
Expanding beyond traditional cinema, Stars Collective has partnered with Stars Immersion, Stars Immersion China and Echotech to create XR immersive theatrical experiences. The first international flagship location is scheduled to open in Los Angeles by the end of 2025, followed by an expansion to 30 venues across North America in 2026 and 50 locations overseas by 2027.
Nancy Xu, co-CEO of Stars Collective, said: “This is not just an extension of the film — it is a parallel universe where audiences around the world can truly live inside ‘Journey to the West.’”
These venues will feature motion-sensing technology and interactive storytelling, allowing international audiences to experience key moments like Sun Wukong’s “Havoc in Heaven” and the “Flaming Mountain” firsthand.
“We want audiences not only to ‘see’ this mythological spectacle but to ‘experience’ it — touch Wukong’s Golden Cudgel, ride Nezha’s Wind Fire Wheels and feel the tremor of Bajie’s Nine-Toothed Rake,” said Yu Xu, CEO of Echotech and Meilin Culture. “Our goal is to bring classic mythology to life in an unprecedented way, forging a deeper emotional connection with audiences worldwide.”
From the big screen to the small, “Journey to the West” has seen more reincarnations than the Monkey King himself. The 16th century epic has inspired a steady stream of adaptations, from Shaw Brothers’ 1966 classic “Monkey Goes West” to Stephen Chow’s irreverent 2013 reimagining “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.” Television has been just as devoted, with the 1986 CCTV series cementing itself as a cultural touchstone in China, while Japan’s 1978 cult hit “Saiyūki” (aired as “Monkey” in the U.K.) found a global following. The West has taken its own swings, with everything from the “Dragon Ball” franchise — loosely inspired by the myth — to the Australian-New Zealand co-production “The New Legends of Monkey” (2018), released on Netflix. Whether as a wuxia epic, slapstick comedy, or CGI-laden spectacle, Sun Wukong’s mischievous spirit has proven as adaptable as it is indestructible.
Stars Collective has been actively building its slate of projects. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with El Pajaro Pictures Shanghai Co. to jointly develop, produce and distribute a new animated film adaptation of “The Little Prince.” It also maintains a strategic partnership with DNEG for immersive experience projects in China and has partnered with HashMatrix Co. on AI projects and a new AI film festival.
At the inaugural Stars Summit in Los Angeles, Stars Collective, Hana Investment (China) and Starlight Media confirmed their partnership on the first projects from the Stars-Hana $300 million fund established to invest across verticals including film and TV, comics, games, collectibles, consumer goods, AI and advanced entertainment technologies.
The company has recently secured rights to the nonfiction book “Fortune Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization,” developing it with Oscar-winning producer Donna Gigliotti (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “Hidden Figures,” “Shakespeare in Love,” “The Reader”).
Stars Collective has also optioned film and TV rights to bestselling author Shawn M. Warner’s “Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor,” an Amazon Charts No. 1 bestseller and TikTok phenomenon. Most recently, the company partnered with Thailand’s Film Odyssey to finance and produce an untitled muay Thai action film trilogy starring Thai martial arts action star Tony Jaa.
