5 things to know about ‘China’s Rambo’ Wu Jing – martial arts star of ‘Wandering Earth’
The action star and director, best known for his roles in such films as ‘Tai Chi Boxer’, ‘Fatal Contact’ and ‘Wolf Warrior’, has box-office appeal and is a key figure in the Chinese film industry
China’s latest science-fiction blockbuster, The Wandering Earth, starring Chinese martial artist, actor and director Wu Jing, has attracted global attention thanks to its impressive box office takings.
The film earned US$557 million in the two weeks following its release during the Lunar New Year holiday to become the highest grossing film of 2019 so far.
That puts the film second in the all-time Chinese film box-office rankings – behind another of Wu’s action films, last year’s patriotic war hero film Wolf Warrior 2, which he also directed.
Both films have been made as part of China’s ambitious quest to counter the influence of Hollywood films in the country by promoting films with Chinese values – and also showcase the nation’s technological and cinematic advances to audiences around the world.
Wu’s continuing box-office appeal and talents – both in front and behind the camera – mean he has become a key figure in the Chinese film industry.
His on-screen tough guy heroics, which have led to him being dubbed the “Rambo of China”, have captured the imagination of the nation’s increasingly patriotic cinema audiences and also gained the full support of China’s President Xi Jinping and his government as they continue to promote nationalistic values to the population.
Check out five things you should know about the 44-year-old Chinese star whose action films are dominating their domestic rivals.
