“Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons” Japanese Theatrical Poster
Chinese superstar Stephen Chow is developing an animated version of The Monkey King for the Shanghai-based animation company Pearl Studio. It will feature a script penned by Ron Friedman and Steve Bencich, who cowrote Brother Bear and Chicken Little.
Monkey King is described by the Studio as “one of China’s most mythical, mystical and mischievous superheroes.”
“It’s one of China’s most enduringly popular heroes of all time. Every child in China grows up knowing the epic tale,” said studio chief creative officer Peilin Chou. “Stephen is the perfect creative partner to bring the character to the world. We know that he will bring all the comedy and scope that makes this adventure legend so special and translate The Monkey King into an enchanting and exciting global animated event.”
The story of the Monkey King from the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West is of course not new to Chow. He previously played the character in A Chinese Odyssey 1 and 2, directed Journey to the West and produced the Tsui Hark-directed Journey to the West 2: The Demons Strike Back.
