The Monkey King is a 2014 Hong Kong - Chinese fantasy film directed by Cheang Pou-soi and starring Donnie Yen as the titular protagonist. Yen also serves as the film's action director. Production began in Beijing on 18 October 2010 and was filmed in 3D. The plot is based on an episode of Journey to the West, a Chinese literary classic written in the Ming Dynasty by Wu Cheng'en. It was released on 31 January 2014. The film is based on selected chapters of Wu Cheng'en's classical novel Journey to the West and will tell the story of how the Monkey King rebels against the Jade Emperor of Heaven.
Description
- Traditional : 西游記之大鬧天宮
- Simplified : 西游记之大闹天宫
- Directed by : Cheang Pou-soi
- Produced by : Kiefer Liu, Michael Wehrhahn, Robert Harris
- Screenplay by : Szeto Kam-Yuen, Edmond Wong, Lola Huo, Dali Chen
- Story by : Wu Cheng'en
- Starring :
* Donnie Yen
* Chow Yun-fat
* Aaron Kwok
* Joe Chen
* Peter Ho
* Kelly Chen
* Zhang Zilin
* Gigi Leung
* Xia Zitong
* Louis Fan - Music by : Christopher Young
- Cinematography : Arthur Wong, Ardy Lam, Yang Tao, Daniel L. Symmes
- Studio :
* Filmko Entertainment,
* Mandarin Films,
* China Film Group,
* Shenzhen Golden Shores Films,
* Zhejiang HG Entertainment,
* Dongguan Boning Entreprise and Investment,
* Beijing Wen Hua Dong Run Investment Co. Ltd,
* China Film Co-Production Corporation,
* Global Star Productions - Distributed by :
* Filmko Entertainment (Hong Kong; International),
* Newport Entertainment (Hong Kong),
* Beijing Anshi Naying Culture Co. (China),
* China Film Group (China),
* Wanda Media (China),
* Global Star Productions - Release dates :
* 25 January 2014 (Beijing premiere),
* 30 January 2014 (Hong Kong),
* 31 January 2014 (China) - Running time : 120 minutes
- Country : Hong Kong, China
- Language : Mandarin, Cantonese
- Budget : 500 million yuan (82 million USD)
- Box office : $175,835,580
When the film was first announced, both Jet Li and Donnie Yen were eyed for a role. On 18 May 2010, Yen was confirmed to be playing the title role of the Monkey King. Later, it was announced Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwok will be playing the Jade Emperor and Bull Demon King respectively. Kwok's role is said to be breaking traditions for being handsome, stylish and fighting for love. The film was originally budgeted at 300 million yuan but later was raised to 400 million yuan.
Production companies include Filmko, Mandarin Films, China Film Group, Shenzhen Golden Shores Films, Zhejiang HG Entertainment, Dongguan Boning Entreprise and Investment, Beijing Wen Hua Dong Run Investment Co., Ltd., China Film Co-Production Corporation, and Global Star Productions, Inc. Michael Wehrhahn, President of Global Star Production, Inc, has joined forces with former Imagine Films President / Universal Television Icon Robert Harris in producing and releasing high end features for the U.S. and Asian markets.
Additional cast members were later announced including Cecilia Cheung, Gigi Leung, Kelly Chen, Peter Ho, Joe Chen and Liu Ye. On 17 May 2011, Zhang Zilin, winner of Miss World 2007, confirmed that she joined the film, playing the role of Nüwa, replacing Cecilia Cheung, who was originally announced in the role. However, Zhang claimed that she never heard that Cheung was to be in the film.
For the 3-D shoot, Filmko recruited Hollywood talents. The crew includes David Ebner (Alice in Wonderland, Spider-Man 3), who will serve as visual effects supervisor for the film and Shaun Smith (The Forbidden Kingdom, 300, I Am Legend) who will be the special make-up supervisor.
Cast / Main cast
- Donnie Yen as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King
- Chow Yun-fat as the Jade Emperor
- Aaron Kwok as Bull Demon King
- Joe Chen as Princess Iron Fan
- Peter Ho as Erlang Shen
- Kelly Chen as Guan Yin
- Zhang Zilin as Nüwa
- Gigi Leung as Chang'e
- Xia Zitong as the Nine-tailed Vixen
- Louis Fan as Juling Shen
- Eddie Cheung as Li Jing, the Pagoda-wielding Heavenly King
- Calvin Cheng as Nezha
- Him Law as Muzha
- Liu Hua as the Dragon King of the East Sea
- Li Ching as the Green-haired Monkey King
- Irene Wang as Fairy Caiyun
- Hai Yitian as Subhuti
- Cathy Leung as Fairy Caixia
- Monica Mok
- Liu Ye
- Wang Xizhi
The original poster released had a release date of February 2012, but it was postponed. Later it was announced that it would be released on 7 July 2012, on 4 July 2013, and finally on 31 January 2014.
Reception
Box office
The film had the highest-grossing opening day in China with RMB121 million (US$20.0 million), surpassing Iron Man 3. It grossed RMB389.97 million (US$64.35 million) in the first four days.
Sequel
Filmko Entertainment announced Louis Koo will be joining the cast as Tang Sanzang in the upcoming sequel.
Source : Wikipedia.
