Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh is championing the release of Ne Zha 2, an animated feature she believes will pave the way for more Chinese stories to be told on the world stage, per film-news.co.uk. The 63-year-old star, who voices Lady Yin in the English-language version of the Chinese box-office hit, described the project as a crucial bridge between traditional mythology and modern audiences.
“It is so important as a cultural exchange; an opening for more Chinese stories that need to be told,” Yeoh told People magazine, highlighting the rich mythological lore of China’s “heavens, the earth and the seas.” She expressed her long-held desire for an English version of the film so that young Western audiences could connect with the story and its themes.
Yeoh praised the movie’s ability to blend classic myth with a contemporary narrative, creating a “timeless, but timely” piece of art. She also revealed a personal connection to the film’s protagonist, Ne Zha, a demigod who fights injustice and feels like an outsider. “This is for people who always felt that they’re not seen, or they have been ostracized,” Yeoh explained, adding that she was inspired by the “spunky kid riding on fire wheels” since she was a child.
With a career that spans from her Hong Kong roots to Hollywood blockbusters like Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Yeoh sees Ne Zha 2 as a significant step in diversifying the cinematic landscape and ensuring that compelling narratives from all cultures find their voice.
