According to Sina, “Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises Over the Desert” is scheduled to premiere on the first day of Lunar New Year 2026 (February 17). Following the release of its first trailer, the film received widespread praise, with particular attention focused on the female warrior A Yu Ya, portrayed by Chen Lijun. Topics related to her character reportedly generated more than 200 million views online.
In fact, Chen Lijun was not Wu Jing’s original choice for the role. Actress Na Er Na Qian, who gained popularity for playing General Deng Chan Yu in “Creation of the Gods II,” was initially cast as A Yu Ya. However, in June 2025, Na Er Na Qian was accused of academic fraud during the national college entrance examination and misconduct related to cultural performance troupes. As a result, her career came to an abrupt halt, forcing the production to replace her.
A Yu Ya is the film’s female protagonist, appearing throughout the story and accounting for approximately 35% of the total screen time, with 127 scenes alongside Wu Jing. Her storyline with characters Dao Ma and A Luo Han is central to the narrative. If the production had relied on AI replacement technology, costs could have reached 150 million yuan, with an additional six months required for post-production. For Wu Jing, known for his perfectionism, this option would have significantly compromised the film’s quality.
However, finding a suitable replacement was not easy. Young actresses with a heroic appearance, strong martial arts skills, and the right temperament for A Yu Ya are rare in the Chinese entertainment industry, which has long suffered from a shortage of capable female action performers. This reality led Wu Jing to invite Chen Lijun, a renowned Yue opera actress, to join the cast.
Born in 1992, Chen Lijun trained in Yue opera from a young age and is well known for frequently playing xiaosheng roles, traditionally male characters. She has been praised for her dignified, heroic aura and sharp martial arts movements, earning strong popularity, particularly among female audiences. She is also one of the hottest young stars in Yue opera today.
In August 2025, Chen Lijun was urgently brought onto the “Blades of the Guardians” set. She completed 18 high-risk action scenes in just 11 days while filming in the Xinjiang desert under extreme heat reaching 55°C. She performed the dangerous stunts herself while maintaining an intense schedule that required frequent flights back to Hangzhou for performances, often sleeping only three hours a day.
Wu Jing personally coached Chen Lijun in horseback riding and helped her integrate movements from traditional Chinese opera with martial arts. Action director Yuen Woo-ping also designed exclusive fight sequences for her, including curved sword slashes and 720-degree aerial spins. Thanks to Chen Lijun’s timely involvement, the film completed post-production on schedule and secured a coveted Lunar New Year release window.
In China, Chen Lijun is currently one of the most acclaimed young performers in Yue opera. She holds a national first-class actor title, was the first traditional opera artist to receive the Chinese May Fourth Youth Medal, and serves as a China–France Traditional Culture Exchange Ambassador. Her performances often sell out, making her a standout phenomenon in the traditional arts scene.
According to Mtime, “Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises Over the Desert” had a production budget exceeding 700 million yuan (approximately USD 98.3 million). The trailer showcases intense combat set against the vast Western Region deserts. Wu Jing stars as escort Dao Ma, who is tasked with accompanying the mysterious Tri Shi Lang to Chang’an, only to be caught in conflicts between multiple rival factions.
The film features martial arts legends spanning several generations, including Kara Hui, Jet Li, Wu Jing, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Max Zhang, alongside younger stars such as Nicholas Tse, Yu Shi, Liu Yaowen, Dong Sicheng, and other martial arts champions. Wu Jing has stated that this project may represent the final large-scale martial arts showcase for many veteran stars, while also passing the torch to the next generation of Chinese action cinema.
Sources: tienphong
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