'Jiang Ziya': China's Record Breaker 'Ne Zha' Gets A Sequel This February

Ne Zha was the biggest film released in China last year. Not only that, but it was the biggest non-Disney animated film of 2019 worldwide, outgrossing How To Train Your Dragon 3 and The Secret Life Of Pets 2, and finished up at number 11 on the international box office chart overall. Grossing over $700 million, it's not surprising to hear that it's getting a follow-up. But it is a surprise that it's coming out quite so soon. In fact, it's hitting cinema screens- both in China and the US- early this year.

Jiang Ziya comes from the creators of Ne Zha and is described as the second instalment of the "Fengshen Cinematic Universe".  Both Ne Zha and Jiang Ziya are adapted from parts of Investiture Of The Gods, which in turn was based on existing Chinese myths of the time. However, the new film is a new story and focuses on a new character (introduced in a mid-credits sting in Ne Zha, Marvel-style).

The titular character is a top commander in a divine army who is banished to the mortal realm when he refuses to take an innocent life. Ten years later he's given another chance to regain entry to the heavenly realm, and must decide whether to follow the will of heaven or find his own path to becoming a true god. 

Jang Ziya is directed by Teng Cheng and Wei Li and is set for release in China on January 25. Well Go USA will bring the film to US audiences just two weeks later on February 7.

Can it follow in its predecessor's footsteps and become another box-office smash? Could it even break Ne Zha's records and become the most successful Chinese animated film of all time? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, you can check out the trailer for Jang Ziya, below.