A24 has revealed the trailer for the English-language dub of Ne Zha 2. The film was originally in Chinese and became a big hit in its home country earlier this year. While some of the exact numbers are mixed, the film’s overall gross has already been estimated at around $2.2 billion.

This made the movie the highest-grossing of the year so far. Because of its success in China, Ne Zha 2 has already been released in the United States, but in its original language, Mandarin Chinese. That release led to around $20 million, which, while respectable, was not even close to the success it saw in China.

Now, A24 has released the trailer for the English-language version of Ne Zha 2. It begins by establishing the setting, in a mountainside town that resembles ancient China. Then, a young boy, Ne Zha, flies through the sky. It is revealed that Ne Zha is immortal and “not exactly your average kid.”

Rather, Ne Zha is a deity, and a rebellious one at that. Throughout the trailer, he is seen interacting with both real animals and dragons. Even amidst the magical adventures, the young God is still encouraged to do mortal things like give his mother a hug before she leaves.

What This Means For Ne Zha 2

Michelle Yeoh Leads The Voice Cast

As the trailer highlights, the English-language version features Michelle Yeoh in the role of Ne Zha’s mother. Other voice actors in the dubbed version include Michael Yurchak, Crystal Lee, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend‘s Vincent Rodriguez III. A24’s trailer emphasized Yeoh as an Oscar winner, indicating how they will rely on her as a big draw.

Ne Zha 2‘s English-language release is in an interesting position, as this film is technically a sequel. The first Ne Zha movie was released in 2019. It was not nearly the kind of sensation that its sequel was, so there is a good chance that audiences in the United States never saw it.

So far, A24’s Ne Zha 2 trailer makes the general plot setup pretty clear. Ne Zha is a deity in a young body, who, while also grappling with issues of the magic world, is grounded in his relationship with his mother. These familiar beats will help the film be accessible even to those who did not see the first movie.

Our Take On The Ne Zha 2 Trailer

It Is Leaning Into The Original Release’s Success

Watching this dubbed version of the Ne Zha 2 trailer, I was struck by how clear the marketing message was. With text on screen calling it “the global phenomenon” and quoting reviews that deem it “a spectacular epic adventure” and more, A24 is clearly trying to ride the existing success of Ne Zha 2.

Its greatest pitch and the way it stands have already proven to be a huge success. A24 wants audiences to go to the theaters to see what all the hype was about earlier this year. As its August 22 release date approaches, it will be interesting to see whether this strategy pays off for the English-language version of Ne Zha 2.

Source: A24