Blades of the Guardians

Plot

Dao Ma, the "second most wanted fugitive," is entrusted by his benefactor, the chief of Mo family clan, to take on a mysterious escort mission-escorting the "most wanted fugitive" to Chang'an.

About Blades of the Guardians

Blades of the Guardians (simplified Chinese: 镖人：风起大漠; traditional Chinese: 鏢人：風起大漠; lit. 'Armed Escorts: Wind Rises in the Great Desert') is a 2026 epic wuxia film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, based on the manhua Biao Ren. Produced by Damai Entertainment in association with Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communications Company and Woo Ping Pictures, the film stars Wu Jing in the lead role, alongside Nicholas Tse, Yu Shi, Ci Sha, Chen Lijun, Zhang Jin, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Jet Li. The film was theatrically released in mainland China on February 17, 2026, during the Chinese New Year. Blades of the Guardians follows the fugitive bounty hunter Dao Ma (Jing) as he escorts the empire's most wanted man, Zhi Shi Lang (Yizhou), across the dangerous Taklamakan Desert to Chang'an during the crumbling late Sui dynasty. This high-stakes trek is triggered when Dao Ma clashes with the tyrannical Chisha Town chief, Chang Guiren (Li). The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Yuen Woo-ping's direction, inventive martial arts choreography, and large-scale action, while some criticized its crowded narrative and underdeveloped characters. As of 2026, it is the highest-grossing wuxia film worldwide.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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