Zhang Yimou releases blockbuster 'The Great Wall'

Premiering to Chinese audiences on December 16, Zhang Yimou's English-language film The Great Wall grossed 465 million yuan (60 million USD) in its first weekend.

Zhang Yimou reveals the secret of the 'Great Wall' in New YorkZhang Yimou and the fight against evil around the 'Great Wall'It should also be mentioned that the film was co-produced with a production budget of 150 million USD - the most expensive in the history of Chinese cinema.

Ambition to "promote Chinese culture"

The film, which will hit the US market in 2017, has sparked talk of Zhang Yimou's mission to "promote Chinese culture." However, the director says that's not too much pressure.

"What people expect from a director is to make sure the story is good, the characters are unique and interesting, and to find something special to tell in the film," he said. "So I came up with the idea of ​​humans fighting demons on the Great Wall of China on this great wall."

Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

Blending Hollywood monster movie tradition with Chinese mythology, The Great Wall is set in the 11th century, during the Northern Song Dynasty. Every 60 years, a pack of hungry demons besieges an ancient city, looking to devour humans.

The film idea was conceived by Thomas Tull, CEO of Legendary Entertainment, while visiting the Great Wall.

“Thomas Tull was amazed and excited when he went to the Great Wall,” said Zhang Yimou. “Then Tull thought about how to tell a story about this great wall on the silver screen, in which Chinese soldiers fight demons.”

The project was then developed by Legendary Entertainment and Legendary East for several years before they approached Zhang Yimou. “They were worried that I would laugh at their script, but I accepted the offer,” Zhang said.

But, this does not mean that the Great Wall script was complete from the beginning. According to director Truong, the original script had many stereotypes and clichés.

"But I see it as an opportunity. They come to us and it shows that the power of cinema in the world has changed. The market and the national power of China have developed so quickly that Hollywood has to pay attention," he shared. "If it were 10 years ago, this would never have happened."

Scene from the movie "The Great Wall".

"Giant" film crew

Filming began two years ago, with more than 20,000 costumes and 5,000 weapons used on set, followed by more than a year of post-production with Weta, the New Zealand digital effects company that worked on The Lord of the Rings.

In addition, the film crew included more than 1,300 people from 37 countries, more than 100 interpreters, and they communicated with each other in many languages.

Zhang Yimou does not know English. “This is a difficulty in directing,” he said. “The best way to overcome this is to find actors who are talented and trustworthy. After careful discussion with them, you can trust that they will embody the character.”

In addition to a number of Hollywood faces starring in the film, such as Matt Damon and Willem Dafoe, the film also features the main role of “Heavenly King” Andy Lau. Another factor that excites Chinese audiences is Wang Junkai, a member of the boy band TFBoys, who plays the young emperor.

“I thought, why do we have to find a mature man? Historically speaking, Chinese emperors were all very young. So I decided to choose Wang Junkai,” Zhang Yimou further explained.

Director Zhang hopes that audiences around the world will be able to see The Great Wall as a standard Hollywood blockbuster when it hits U.S. theaters in February 2017. “And, they may also have new feelings about China. That’s what I want to achieve.”

According to TT&VH