AI to remaster Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee films

At the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, the China Film Foundation unveiled two major AI-powered projects aimed at reshaping the future of filmmaking. As part of the Kung Fu Film Heritage Project, the foundation will restore 100 iconic martial arts films using artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to enhance visuals, sound, and overall quality while staying true to each film’s original style and story. Titles lined up for restoration include Fist of Fury, The Big Boss, Once Upon a Time in China, and Drunken Master. Ten of these films will be prioritized in the first phase.

Zhang Qilin, chair of the China Film Foundation, said these kung fu classics—from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan—represent China's cultural spirit and cinematic identity. The long-term goal is to preserve and celebrate the legacy of martial arts cinema.

In a separate announcement, the foundation also introduced A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border, the world’s first fully AI-generated animated feature. A cyberpunk take on John Woo’s crime classic, the film was created entirely with an AI pipeline—from scriptwriting to animation—by a team of just 30 people. According to producer Zhang Qing, AI has dramatically shortened production timelines, reducing years of work to just a few months.

Zhang also encouraged Chinese creators to explore new digital formats, including turning film IPs into interactive experiences like globally competitive video games, showing how AI is pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling.