After seven years away from the lens, the legendary Yuen Woo-ping returns to the director’s chair this Chinese New Year with a triumphant adaptation of Xu Xianzhe’s acclaimed manhua, Blades of the Guardians. In this ambitious project, the Hong Kong maestro revitalizes the wuxia genre by stripping away the over-reliance on CGI that has plagued recent productions. Instead, he embraces a visceral, “old-school” approach: gritty physical combat, traditional wire-fu, and sweeping cinematography filmed on location in the unforgiving Xinjiang desert.
Set during the turbulent Sui Dynasty, the narrative follows Dao Ma (Wu Jing), a formidable mercenary and the empire’s “second most wanted fugitive.” His journey begins with what appears to be a routine escort mission: transporting the mysterious prisoner Zhi Shilang across the treacherous Gobi Desert to the capital, Chang’an.
The film’s strength lies in its generational synergy. Wu Jing anchors an ensemble cast where icons like Tony Leung Ka-fai and Nicholas Tse share the screen with rising pop idols. Among them are Jun (Wen Junhui) of SEVENTEEN and Winwin (Dong Sicheng) of NCT/WayV.
However, standout highlight is the emergence of Chen Lijun. Stepping in as a last-minute replacement for actress Nashi—whose casting was derailed by a university admission scandal—Lijun’s performance as Ayuya is nothing short of miraculous. Despite having only eleven days to reshoot her scenes, she imbues the character with a blend of vulnerability and feminine strength that resonates amidst the brutality of the desert anchoring the film’s emotional core.
Of course, the most electric moment for fans is the return of the legendary Jet Li. Though his appearance is brief, it is high-octane and magnetic. His duels with Wu Jing crackle with an energy that defies his years in retirement, reminding audiences why he remains a titan of the genre.
Following its massive opening in China on February 17, 2026—raking in over 156 million yuan ($22.58M) on day one—the film is now playing in the USA. Domestic audiences can find screenings through Well Go USA.