League of Gods (Photo : Encore Films)
After two years of absence, fans of Chinese action star Jet Li would see him again on the silver screen in the upcoming movie “League of Gods.” His last movie, “The Expendables 3” was shown in 2014.
Co-starring in the HK$300-million movie is Li’s friend Huang Xiaoming. The fantasy flick "League of Gods" has been called the Chinese version of “X-Men” with its heavy use of elaborate computer animated graphics, according to Todayonline.
Under the direction of new filmmakers Koan Hui and Vernie Yeung, the much-anticipated movie is based on an old Chinese tale, “The Investiture of Gods,” a formula used in many Chinese TV series and movies. The film is set in the Shang Dynasty where Jiang Ziya, the character played by Li, and his group overthrow King Zhou, a tyrant, played by Tony Leung Ka Fai, and Daji, his concubine – played by Fan Bingbing – who is also an exil vixen spirit in disguise.
But to overthrow the king, Jiang Ziya and his band of underdogs must get hold of a mystical sword. His allies are Jacky Heung (played by Ji Lei), Er Lang Shen (Huang Xiaoming) and Nezha (Wen Zhang). Li also has a sidekick baby here, aside from the movie featuring a spectacle of colors and effects, reported Comicbookresources.
Li recalled that he witnessed Jacky Heung grow up in the five to six years the young man has been in the film industry. Jacky’s parents are his godparents which makes his co-star his real god-brother. The producers of “League of Gods” are Jacky’s parents, Charles Heung and Tiffany Chen, who co-founded Win Entertainment.
The movie premiered in Beijing and officially opens on Friday, July 29, in cinemas across the U.S.
