Hey, what’s the highest-grossing movie of the year? What’s the highest-grossing animated movie of all time? The answers are the same, and it’s Ne Zha 2, the Chinese smash which has earned $2.2B worldwide, surpassing Inside Out 2‘s $1.7B, and Lilo & Stitch‘s $975M for the year. And now it’s coming to the United States courtesy of A24 next month.
Ne Zha 2 will hit theaters in the US, Canada, and New Zealand on August 22nd in IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats.
Of course, this will be an English-dubbed version of Ne Zha 2, and THR confirms that Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh is the first person added to the voice cast. This reunites Yeoh with A24, the studio behind her Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Directed by Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 is based on the titular Chinese mythological hero, a demigod with immense powers who fights against his destiny to destroy the world.
Jiaozi also directed 2019’s Ne Zha which earned $742M globally.
SYNOPSIS: After the catastrophe, although the souls of Nezha and Aobing were saved, their bodies would soon be shattered. Taiyi Zhenren planned to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies.
Yeoh expressed her excitement in a statement…
“I’m honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be. Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”
