The English-dubbed version of China's animated blockbuster "Ne Zha II" launched in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, with Michelle Yeoh attending the premiere, as the movie looks to break into Western markets.

(Left to right) Voice cast Aleks Le, Vincent Rodriguez III, Michelle Yeoh, Crystal Lee and Damien Haas at the premiere of "Ne Zha II" in Los Angeles, Aug. 4, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

With A24 and CMC Pictures handling the distribution in the United States, the film has rebranded from "Ne Zha 2" to "Ne Zha II." According to a new synopsis produced by A24, the film follows Ne Zha, a rebellious boy feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with uncontrollable powers. When an ancient force threatens humanity, he must become the hero the world needs.

"Ne Zha II" has emerged as a box office sensation since its release earlier this year, ending its China run on June 30 with 15.45 billion yuan ($2.13 billion) to become the highest-grossing Chinese film ever. Its worldwide total has so far reached $2.19 billion, making it the top-grossing animated film globally, the highest-grossing non-English-language film and the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only "Avatar," "Avengers: Endgame," "Avatar: The Way of Water" and "Titanic."

"I think it's pushed so many boundaries," Oscar-winning actor Michelle Yeoh, who voices Ne Zha's mother Lady Yin in the film, said on the premiere's red carpet. "It keeps the colors, the intricate characters. It's a mythical place where there is heaven, there's the ocean, there's the earth, and they have created a fantasy to the greatest extent. So I think, you know, that's for us. That's what animation can do. And I think this one has really pushed it to the limits."

She added, "I am so proud of Jiaozi the director of 'Ne Zha II' and his team for the incredible work that they have done. I mean, the perseverance, the patience, the painstaking [work] every step of the way to bring us this amazing story, and then I get to be a part of it."

An IMAX poster for "Ne Zha II." [Image courtesy of IMAX]

Crystal Lee, who voices Ne Zha, noted that the film marks the culmination of decades of training, practice and work from animators overseas and at home while stressing the movie's resonance.

"I think it's one of the first pieces of work that I've seen that tells a story that is so deeply relatable as an Asian and especially an Asian American, and the relationship that I have with my family, I feel it reflected so deeply," she said. 

Aleks Le, the voice of the dragon prince Ao Bing, stressed: "I think what gives it a really fresh perspective is that it's produced and made in China. So with that comes new animation techniques that haven't really been; there are very specific things that weren't popularized that we are used to seeing here. There's also humor that's new to a lot of the audiences here. There are character dynamics and relationships. So, it just brings a whole new flavor that we haven't seen."

For Vincent Rodriguez III, who provides the voice of Ne Zha's father Li Jing, the animated movie is quite unlike anything he has seen before: "It is so many different, amazing, incredible things all in one movie. You have this visual that you're not going to believe. You have action sequences that are going to defy what you think an action sequence is."

Damien Haas, who dubs Deero, a deer immortal in the film, noted that the mythology the movie is based on might be new for a lot of Western audiences. "There's so much fresh and beautiful animation there," he said.

A24 and CMC Pictures executives and guests pose for a photo at the premiere of "Ne Zha II" in Los Angeles, Aug. 4, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

Catherine Ying, vice president of CMC Inc. and president of CMC Pictures, explained that the collaboration with A24, the entertainment company behind Oscar-winning films such as "Moonlight" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once," reflects a shared commitment to innovative content and commerce. "This partnership breaks traditional models through co-creation, establishing a new approach for Chinese-language films' global distribution — moving beyond one-way exports to market-informed co-creation," she explained.

David Fenkel, co-founder of A24, expressed his thanks to CMC Pictures at the premiere for bringing the film to North America, emphasizing A24's deep appreciation for their collaboration and enthusiasm in the joint distribution effort. Fenkel noted his team's strong affinity for the "Ne Zha II" project from its early stages and specifically acknowledged Michelle Yeoh's involvement as a valued contribution.

Ying stressed the English-dubbed "Ne Zha II" marks a key phase in CMC Pictures' global strategy for the film, tackling the language barrier faced abroad by Chinese films. 

"The English version goes beyond translation — it's deep cultural integration," she said, noting the film must first break language barriers to reach global audiences, ensuring lasting impact and derivative projects gain market traction.

Michelle Yeoh and director Frant Gwo at the premiere of "Ne Zha II" in Los Angeles, Aug. 4, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

The Los Angeles premiere also welcomed a surprise guest — Frant Gwo, the filmmaker behind China's sci-fi blockbuster franchise "The Wandering Earth." The appearance of Gwo and his team highlights the progress of Chinese-language cinema, and serves as a microcosm of collective creative exploration among Chinese filmmakers.

The new English version of "Ne Zha II" opens in North America, Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 22.