Michelle Yeoh Brings Record-Breaking ‘Ne Zha 2’ to English Audiences

When Michelle Yeoh first saw Ne Zha 2 in Hong Kong, she left the theater with one thought: This film needed an English dub.

The Chinese animated blockbuster, now the highest-grossing animated film in history with over $2.2 billion in global ticket sales, dazzled her with its scale and spectacle. But even with her Mandarin skills, Yeoh found it hard to keep up with the subtitles and fast-paced visuals—so how could younger audiences follow along?

Turns out, she wasn’t the only one thinking about accessibility. Film studio A24 and CMC Pictures were already planning an English-language version. Soon after, Yeoh got the call to voice Lady Yin, the mother of the titular hero. Her reaction: “Hell yes.”

The English dub will debut in over 2,500 North American theaters on Aug. 22.

A Legendary Tale with a Modern Twist

Based on a beloved figure from Chinese mythology, Ne Zha 2 follows a rebellious child—born as the reincarnation of a demon—determined to prove his destiny isn’t set in stone. In the sequel, Ne Zha faces the ultimate test: saving his friend and village. Newcomers don’t need to watch the first film; the story stands on its own.

While the tale is ancient, Yeoh says she’s never seen it told with such stunning visuals. The production took five years, involved 4,000 people across 138 animation studios, and features nearly 2,400 animation shots and 1,900 special effects sequences.

“They created this magical world that I hadn’t seen at this level of superb animation before,” Yeoh said. “The intricacies are mind-blowing.”

Translating More Than Words

Yeoh also praised the English adaptation’s handling of cultural nuance—a challenge given the poetic nature of Chinese folk tales.

“With translation, a lot of the times the nuances are lost,” she said. “They struck a very good balance—keeping it contemporary without losing the beauty of the original.”

Earlier this year, the subtitled version earned over $20 million in North America, with Chinese-American communities even renting theaters for private screenings. Yeoh believes the dub will expand its reach.

“It’s the universal language of family, love, and the underdog,” she said. “It immerses you in our culture—and it’s a beautiful way to cross that bridge.”