Chinese movie studios are plunging into the future with a bold initiative to revive more than 100 classic martial arts films using artificial intelligence.

Unveiled at the Shanghai International Film Festival, the venture will digitally restore classic films featuring Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li digitally, breathing new life into the classic films for modern-day viewers.

The production, titled the “Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project: 100 Classics AI Revitalisation Project,” will refurbish classics such as Fist of Fury (1972), Drunken Master (1978), and Once Upon a Time in China (1991).

The goal is to enhance the visuals, sound, and overall quality—without altering the original stories or characters.

One standout remake is John Woo’s blockbuster A Better Tomorrow (1986), which is being reimagined as a fully animated, AI-produced movie. The role originally played by Chow Yun-fat will be rebooted in a cyberpunk setting. Producers claim it will be the world’s first fully AI-generated animated feature film.

Zhang Pimin, president of the China Film Foundation, called the venture both a tribute to the history of cinema and a leap toward the future.

“These films are gems,” he said. “AI will make them relevant to audiences today in a new way.”

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Tian Ming, president of Shanghai Canxing Culture and Media, pledged that the project would stay true to the originals while delivering an enhanced viewing experience. The project is backed by a 100 million yuan budget (approximately $13.9 million).