The Rise of the Great Sage Set for July 10, 2026! 11 Years Later, a New Monkey King Animated Film Ignites Summer with Hardcore Chinese Style & Epic Growth
Hey friends! Do you still remember the summer of 2015 when Monkey King: Hero Is Back (Xi You Ji Zhi Da Sheng Gui Lai) exploded across China? That rebellious Monkey King breaking free from Five Finger Mountain with the iconic line “My fate is decided by me, not the heavens” sparked a massive wave of national pride in Chinese animation. It smashed box office records with nearly 956 million RMB, becoming a landmark that made everyone believe in the rise of domestic anime.
Now, exactly 11 years later, on July 10, 2026 (the same release date as the original!), a brand-new Monkey King animated film has officially been announced: The Rise of the Great Sage (Da Sheng Jue Qi)!
As soon as the news dropped, it took over Weibo, Douyin, and comment sections everywhere. Everyone’s excited but also a bit confused: Is this the long-awaited official sequel to Hero Is Back? Let’s break it all down in a friendly, easy-to-read way so you know exactly what to expect!
Movie Quick Facts
- Title: The Rise of the Great Sage (previously known as The King of Chaos: The Rise of the Great Sage, Four Monkeys of Chaos, or Journey to the West: Four Monkeys of Chaos)
- Release Date: July 10, 2026 – Nationwide theatrical release (prime summer slot!)
- Main Producers: Sky City Pictures (the key producer behind Hero Is Back and Kailash) + Yuan Kong Culture and China Film
- Style: Hardcore Chinese traditional aesthetics + hot-blooded growth story
- Tagline: “A hero’s shell is meant to be broken.” “You are a god, Buddha, demon, or monster! You are the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!” “A coin has two sides — Buddha and demon are just one thought apart.”
The team just dropped the first official trailer and five character posters. The visuals look noticeably upgraded, the action feels intense, and new mysterious characters have everyone buzzing!
What’s the Story About?
Set 500 years after the Heavenly Palace uproar, the story explores the hidden side of the classic Journey to the West.
Sun Wukong (the Great Sage) has agreed to escort a monk (Tang Sanzang) to the Western Heaven for Buddhist scriptures for over 14 years. But this decision shocks and angers his fellow monkey brothers from the same clan. They rise to stop him.
The film dives deep into the “other side” of the Westward Journey. When the Demon King Bo Xun (波旬) opens up the secret world behind the pilgrimage, a grand chess game between Buddha and demons begins — with heaven and earth as the board, and all living beings as pieces.
It’s not just another fun adventure. Expect themes of destiny, identity crisis, inner shadows, and heroic rebirth. The Great Sage must face not only external enemies but also his own “shadows.”
Key new elements in the trailer and posters:
- Fierce showdown with Liu Er Mi Hou (Six-Eared Macaque / 六猕)
- Brand-new characters: A Mo (阿末), Bi Fang (毕方), and the mysterious Demon King Bo Xun
- Hints of Black and White Impermanence (ghost officials) and more hidden surprises
Early project filings mentioned the “Four Monkeys of Chaos” and themes of friendship, betrayal, awakening, and redemption. The team is keeping plenty of secrets for now — we’ll learn more as additional trailers drop.
Is It the Real Sequel to Hero Is Back?
This is the question on everyone’s mind.
Short answer: No, it is not the official direct sequel.
- Shared elements: Same main production company (Sky City Pictures owns the core IP rights), similar “hardcore guofeng + passionate growth” vibe, and they’re clearly riding the wave of nostalgia from the 2015 hit.
- Big differences: Different creative team. Original director Tian Xiaopeng and his October Media crew are not involved. The story, world-building, and character arcs are independent and do not continue directly from Hero Is Back.
Sky City is planning a whole series around the Great Sage IP, including prequels and sequels. The Rise of the Great Sage is one standalone piece in that bigger universe.
The true spiritual continuation that many fans have been waiting for is Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven (Da Sheng Nao Tian Gong), still being developed by Tian Xiaopeng’s team (expected around 2028). That one will focus more on the classic “birth to havoc” origin story.
So The Rise of the Great Sage is a parallel take on the same beloved IP — not fake, but not the same flavor either. Some netizens call it “borrowing heat,” while others are just happy to see more Monkey King content as long as the quality is good.
Meet the Cast: Beyond Sun Wukong
Unlike previous adaptations that focus solely on the monk’s quartet, Monkey King: Rise digs into the “Four Messianic Monkeys” (混世四猴) lore.
| Character | Role / Identity | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Wukong | The “Enlightened” Sage | Struggling to balance his wild nature with his new role as a protector. |
| Liu Mi (Six-Eared Macaque) | The Dark Mirror | Represents the path Wukong didn’t take. He is the primary physical antagonist. |
| Mara Papiyas (Bo Xun) | The Overlord of Desire | A powerful Buddhist demon who acts as the “chess player” controlling the conflict. |
| Bi Fang & A Mo | New Mythical Beings | Fresh characters designed to expand the universe’s world-building beyond the original novel. |
| Black & White Imps | The Underworld Sentinels | Their appearance suggests the film will explore the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation. |
The “Sequel” Controversy: Who Owns the Sage?
This is where it gets spicy. Many fans are calling this a “fake” sequel, but it’s more accurate to call it a legal successor.
- The Copyright: Sky Films (天空之城影业) owns the specific character design and branding of the 2015 Hero is Back version of Wukong.
- The Director Split: Tian Xiaopeng, the visionary director of the original, has moved on to his own studio (October Media) and is working on Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven (expected 2028).
- The Team: Monkey King: Rise is directed by Wang Chuan (the man behind the Kuiyu Chouyuan series) and Bai Ding. While it’s a different crew, many “core” members of the 2015 production were brought back by Sky Films to ensure the “visual DNA” remains the same.
Visuals & Tech: The AIGC Revolution
The producer, Lu Wei, has been very vocal about using AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) to build this film.
- Industrialization: Instead of the grueling 8-year dev cycle of the first film, AI was used to speed up environment rendering and character modeling.
- The Aesthetic: Expect “Hardcore Guofeng.” The trailers show a transition from the vibrant colors of the first film to a more high-contrast, “ink-wash meets cyberpunk” feel.
- Music: The score is being designed to evoke the same “rock and roll” energy that made the 2015 theme song so iconic.
Why the Huge Hype? 11 Years of Emotion + Summer Blockbuster Timing
Hero Is Back wasn’t just a movie — it was a cultural moment that proved Chinese animation could create its own iconic hero. Eleven years later, the domestic animation scene has grown (with hits like Nezha, Jiang Ziya, Deep Sea, etc.), but Sun Wukong still holds a special place in many hearts.
Releasing on the same date as the original is clearly a love letter to the fans. Upgraded animation quality, fresh takes on Westward Journey lore, and a powerful new villain like Bo Xun make it easy for old fans to feel nostalgic while pulling in new viewers.
The producers have also mentioned future prequels/sequels and plans to use advanced AICG technology for more efficient, high-quality production.
What Are People Saying Online?
The comment sections went wild after the announcement:
- Excited fans: “11 years! Monkey Bro is back — summer 2026, I’m ready!”
- Skeptics: “Not Tian Xiaopeng’s team, so the taste feels different. Stop forcing the connection.”
- Jokes: “We’ve seen enough Monkey King and Nezha… can we get something new?” or “One stone, two pounds of lotus root, three eyes and one dog — that’s how Chinese myth worlds are built!”
- Balanced takes: “As long as the movie is well-made, I’m in. More good Monkey King films are always welcome.”
Overall, anticipation is high, but everyone agrees: the final quality of the animation, fights, and storytelling will decide whether it becomes another classic or just a solid summer watch.
Final Thoughts: Chinese Animation Needs More Bold Experiments
Whether you see it as an official sequel or not, The Rise of the Great Sage is shaping up to be one of the biggest domestic animated releases of summer 2026. It carries 11 years of audience emotion, a decade of polishing by Sky City, and an ambitious new spin on the Westward Journey legend.
If you’re an old fan craving that “my fate is my own” rebellious energy again, or a new viewer curious about a darker, more philosophical take on Buddha vs. Demon — mark your calendar for July 10, 2026.
What are you most looking forward to? The Six-Eared Macaque fight? The mysterious Demon King Bo Xun? Or are you still holding out for Tian Xiaopeng’s version? Drop your thoughts in the comments — let’s chat!
(This article is based on official announcements, trailers, and public reports as of early April 2026. All images and trailer clips come from the official The Rise of the Great Sage Weibo account. Stay tuned for more updates — official sources are always the most reliable. Go, Chinese animation! Go Great Sage!)
“Monkey King: Rise” (2026) | Frequently Asked Questions
Monkey King: Rise is officially set to hit theaters across China on July 10, 2026. This date is significant as it marks the exact 11th anniversary of the release of Monkey King: Hero is Back (2015), which debuted on July 10th.
Technically, no. While it is produced by Sky Films (天空之城影业)—the original studio behind Hero is Back—it is considered a “spiritual successor” or a new chapter within the same IP universe.
The Studio: Same (Sky Films).
The Character Design: Very similar (Sky Films owns the rights to the 2015 Wukong look).
The Director: Different. Original director Tian Xiaopeng is not involved in this project.
The film is directed by Wang Chuan (known for the Kuiyu Chouyuan series) and Bai Ding. Although the original director is absent, the production team includes several core members who worked on the 2015 film to ensure high-quality animation and a consistent “Hardcore Guofeng” style
The story takes place 500 years after the “Havoc in Heaven.” Sun Wukong has agreed to protect Tang Sanzang on the 14-year pilgrimage to the West. However, this decision causes deep resentment and conflict among his former demon brothers. The film explores the “shadow side” of the Journey to the West, focusing on themes of fate, betrayal, and the internal struggle of a hero.
The film features two primary antagonists:
The Six-Eared Macaque (Liu Mi): Wukong’s legendary rival who represents the path Wukong abandoned.
Mara Papiyas (Bo Xun): A powerful demon king from Buddhist lore who manipulates the “chess match” between gods and demons.
Yes! Alongside Wukong and the Six-Eared Macaque, the film introduces several new mythical figures:
Bo Xun (Mara Papiyas)
Bi Fang (A legendary fire bird)
A Mo
The Black and White Imps (Sentinels of the Underworld)
The producers utilized AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) to industrialize the animation process. This technology helped the team create highly detailed environments and complex character models more efficiently than traditional 3D rendering, allowing for a “blockbuster” look on a faster timeline.
They are two different projects:
Monkey King: Rise (2026): Produced by Sky Films, directed by Wang Chuan. It is the “11-year anniversary” project.
Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven (大圣闹天宫): Directed by original Hero is Back director Tian Xiaopeng. This i
