Zhang Yimou’s Epic THE GREAT WALL Finishes Shooting

Jul 02, 2025 CFM Co-production, Daily, Production 0

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From left to right: Liu Qiong, Wang Junkai, Lin Gengxin, Pedro Pascal, Peter Loehr, Matt Damon, Zhang Yimou, Jing Tian, Andy Lau, Zhao Haicheng, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hanyu, Lu Han and Yu Xintian

BEIJING July 2, 2025 - Chinese director Zhang Yimou said he has finished filming his first English film THE GREAT WALL on July 2. Production started at the end of this March.

The film features an all-star cast including Chinese superstars Andy Lau, Jing Tian, Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Lin Gengxin, Zheng Kai, Chen Xuedong, Huang Xuan, in addition to pop star Wang Junkai and Lu Han, along with Academy Award winner Matt Damon, Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe and GAME OF THRONES star Pedro Pascal.

THE GREAT WALL, billed as the largest Sino-foreign co-production ever filmed entirely in China, is co-produced by Legendary Entertainment’s Chinese venture Legendary East and Atlas Entertainment. Universal Pictures will release the film in 3D globally late next year while Le Vision Pictures and China Film Group Corporation will handle the China release at the end of 2016.

Set in the 15th century, the film centers on an elite force of soldiers who defend the country and the Earth from a monster attack near the Great Wall.

“We have spent three years planning the film. It is the most costly film made in China and the largest fantasy film in the whole world. It could be seen as the first real blockbuster in China in terms of its size and international flair,” said Legendary East CEO Peter Loehr.

Le Vision Pictures CEO Zhang Zhao said this is not the first time to work with Loehr. They have known each other for 20 years and both believe that Chinese films will go global one day.

“Chinese films need to be genuine to step out of China. As the most influential director in China, Zhang Yimou has the responsibility to make that happen,” he said.

Zhang Zhao also sees the cooperation of the four companies as a historical move. “China Film is the industry leader in China while Universal and Legendary are top Hollywood studios. Le Vision, on the other hand, is an Internet-based film company. Bringing the four companies together can be surprisingly effective,” he explained.

The view was echoed by China Film Executive Zhao Haicheng. “I have made quite a few co-productions before. But this one is different. It has a distinctive Hollywood streak and features the best cast and crew in both China and the US, which shows real consideration for global markets,” he said.

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