‘Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert’ Trailer Unleashes Martial Arts Legends in Epic New Look

Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert is a 2026 epic martial arts film directed by Yuen Woo-ping and based on the Chinese manhua Biao Ren.

The film brings together a large ensemble cast of major action stars and was produced by Damai Entertainment, Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communications Company, and Woo Ping Pictures. It was released in mainland China on February 17, during the Chinese New Year period.

The story is set during the Sui dynasty and follows Dao Ma, a bounty hunter who travels with his young nephew Xiao Qi. While passing through a village, Dao Ma gets pulled into political tension after refusing a government offer to become a martial arts instructor for an official army. Even when offered wealth and a prized sword, he chooses to stay away from court politics, showing his independent and hardened nature.

The film stars Wu Jing as Dao Ma, with Nicholas Tse, Yu Shi, Ci Sha, Chen Lijun, Zhang Jin, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Jet Li, and several others filling out a large cast of warriors, officials, and fighters. The story focuses heavily on martial codes, loyalty, and survival in a violent and unstable world.

The film’s production was officially approved in 2023, with Yuen Woo-ping confirmed as director later that year. Wu Jing also joined as producer and lead actor. In the months that followed, more high-profile martial arts performers were added to the cast, including Jet Li, strengthening the film’s reputation as a major action project.

Before filming began, the cast went through intensive training. According to production notes, all main actors were required to complete structured preparation in martial arts, sword fighting, and horseback riding. Wu Jing also underwent major physical preparation for his role, including growing out his hair and beard to match the character design and training extensively in action choreography.

Principal photography began in July 2024 in Xinjiang and Beijing and wrapped later that year. However, the production faced major disruption during post-production when a lead actress was removed from the project following controversy over academic records. According to reports from Chinese media and official notices, the situation led to reshoots and casting changes, with Chen Lijun replacing the role. This process increased production costs significantly and delayed the film’s release schedule.

Despite these challenges, the film was completed and released in early 2026. International distribution was handled by Well Go USA Entertainment for North America, with additional releases in the United Kingdom and Ireland in April 2026.

With its large cast of martial arts stars, heavy action focus, and high production scale, Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert is positioned as a major modern wuxia blockbuster that aims to revive large-scale traditional martial arts cinema for a global audience.

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