A24 has revealed the trailer for the English-language dub ofNe 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, thefilm’s overall gross has already been estimated at around $2.2 billion.
This made the movie thehighest-grossing of the yearso far. Because of its success in China,Ne Zha 2has 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,A24has releasedthe trailer for the English-language version ofNe 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, andCrazy 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, asthis film is technically a sequel.The firstNe Zhamovie 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.
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So far, A24’sNe Zha 2trailer 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 theNe Zha 2trailer, 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 ofNe Zha 2.
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 ofNe 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 ofNe Zha 2.
