Bloody Hell! Ne Zha 2 Gets the Michelle Yeoh Treatment – English Dub Incoming!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Ne Zha 2, the highest-grossing animated film ever, is getting an English dub starring Michelle Yeoh, promising a wild ride for audiences down under, the states, and up north. It’s a proper animated phenomenon, and now we get to see what all the fuss is about – assuming we can snag tickets before they sell out!
Right, so you might not have heard of Ne Zha 2, but trust me, it's kind of a big deal. How big? Oh, only the biggest non-English language film *ever*, mate. We’re talking bigger than Inside Out 2, The Lion King, and it even managed to out-gross Star Wars: The Force Awakens faster than you can say "May the Force be with you." That's according to IGN South Africa, anyway. And now? Well, now A24 is bringing this animated behemoth to the English-speaking world, and they're not messing around.
The film is set to premiere in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on August 22nd, and will be available in those fancy IMAX and 3D formats too, so you can see all the whizz-bangery in its full glory. The synopsis, as reported by Variety, paints a picture of Ne Zha as a kind of misunderstood anti-hero. Feared by the gods (always a bad sign), burdened with untamed powers, and facing an ancient evil... you know, the usual Tuesday for a protagonist. He's gotta grow up fast and become the hero everyone needs, even if they don't quite deserve him.
But here's the kicker: Michelle Yeoh, Oscar winner and all-around legend, is joining the voice cast! The role? Top secret, naturally. But Yeoh herself seems properly chuffed about the whole thing. "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," she said. "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.”
Fair dinkum, with a budget of only $80 million, Ne Zha 2 raked in a staggering $2.2 billion worldwide. That's the kind of return on investment that makes even the most cynical studio exec crack a smile. It even has the fifth-highest grossing film ever released title, so someone has seen it!
CMC, the Chinese company partnering with A24 (sounds like an odd couple, doesn't it?) spilled the beans at the Beijing International Film Festival back in April. So, keep an eye out for Ne Zha 2 hitting cinemas this August. It might just be the animated kick in the pants we all need.
Tags: animation, film, Michelle Yeoh, Ne Zha 2, A24
Original article: IGN South Africa