Recently, actress Joey Wong shared a two-minute video on her social media accounts featuring a remarkably youthful version of herself.

The footage showed the actress with smooth skin and the appearance she was known for during the height of her career. Because the scenes had never been seen before, many viewers initially wondered whether she had returned to acting.

Joey Wong later clarified that the video was not a new live-action production but an AI-generated short film titled Tian Ying, created to promote NetEase’s online game Tianxia. Accompanying the video, she wrote: “There is a story that lives in the hearts of everyone who remembers.”

According to NetEase, the project was created using more than 200,000 frames of Joey Wong’s facial expressions and appearance, along with 15 years of archived visual materials to train its AI models. The company said a dedicated production team spent nearly a year completing the digital recreation. The result has been widely praised for faithfully capturing the actress’s appearance during her golden years.

Several Chinese media outlets described the AI project as Joey Wong’s first screen appearance in 22 years, even though it was produced entirely through artificial intelligence rather than traditional filmmaking. The release has also fueled broader discussions about AI-generated content (AIGC) and its growing influence across China’s entertainment industry.

Citing the 2026 China Digital Content White Paper, reports noted that 83 Chinese film, television, and gaming companies signed collaboration projects involving digital artists during the first half of the year. Around 60% of those projects reportedly focused on remaking classic intellectual properties using AI technology.

The project has generated mixed reactions online. While many viewers praised the realism of the AI recreation, others expressed concern about the future of filmmaking. Comments included:

  • I would never watch AI-made movies without real actors.
  • The technology is incredibly impressive.
  • It really feels like she’s gone back in time.
  • In the future, real actors may no longer be necessary.

The contrasting opinions reflect the ongoing debate over whether AI should complement or eventually replace traditional actors and filmmakers.

Joey Wong made her acting debut in 1984 with the Taiwanese film This Year’s Lake Breeze Is Cold before expanding her career into Hong Kong cinema. She became one of Asia’s biggest stars through iconic films such as A Chinese Ghost Story and Swordsman II, earning widespread recognition for her timeless beauty and memorable performances. After starring in Shanghai Story in 2004, Joey Wong retired from the entertainment industry and has largely stayed out of the public eye.

Earlier this year, however, she returned to social media by opening an official account on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, where she continues to connect with fans.

The release of NetEase’s AI-generated short film has now introduced Joey Wong’s classic image to a new generation while reigniting conversations about how artificial intelligence may reshape the future of film, gaming, and digital storytelling.

Sources: 네이트 뉴스