The Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh believes it’s time for Hollywood to spotlight Asian mythological characters more, like those featured in the Chinese film Ne Zha 2, now the top-grossing animated film ever worldwide.
“They’re warriors and demigods,” said Yeoh, who voices Ne Zha’s mother in the film’s English version.
“Think of them like Zeus or Thor, but these are ours. It’s crucial because learning about another culture’s myths offers a deeper understanding and helps embrace diversity,” added the Everything Everywhere All at Once star.
Ne Zha 2, distributed by A24, continues the story from 1999’s Ne Zha. In this sequel, Nezha and Aobing’s souls strive to reclaim their bodies and protect their families. The original earned over $700 million (Dh2.57 billion) globally.
The English-dubbed fantasy film, directed by Yu Yang and based on the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin, premieres in US theaters on Friday.
The Mandarin original made headlines by surpassing Pixar’s Inside Out 2 in February, becoming the highest-grossing animated film globally, as per Maoyan’s data.
Ne Zha 2 has grossed 12.3 billion yuan ($1.69 billion) including pre-sales and international earnings, ranking as the eighth-highest film globally in box office history.
Yeoh highlights the film’s cultural depth but stresses that it’s primarily “a beautiful story” for everyone.
“We should stop labeling it as just a ‘Chinese film,'” she noted.
Recalling her first viewing, the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress described being captivated by the screen.
“You’re taken to the heavens and the depths of the seas, witnessing dragons and more, transporting you for those two hours,” Yeoh expressed.
