Legendary Monkey King actor to reimagine 'Journey to the West' classic

Renowned Monkey King actor Zhang Jinlai told China.org.cn in a recent interview that he wants to produce short drama series and films to reimagine "Journey to the West."

Actor Zhang Jinlai poses with Monkey King performers at the final of the 2026 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition in Jiyuan, Henan province, May 21, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Henan Wangwu Cultural Tourism Group]

Zhang, 67, better known by his stage name Liu Xiaolingtong, revealed that he is now serving as the general director of a short drama series centered on stories related to the Monkey King. He shared the news while reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the television adaptation of the Chinese fantasy classic, widely regarded as one of China's most successful and influential series. Looking ahead, he said he hopes the short dramas under his direction will be fast-paced, tightly structured, and exquisitely produced.

He participated in a short video last year where he dressed up as the Monkey King to fight the animated version of Monkey King from the popular Chinese-developed video game "Black Myth: Wukong."

This gesture stirred online excitement whilst delivering a sentimental feeling, capturing all generations of Monkey King fans' attention. Zhang first became famous after starring as the lead character, the Monkey King Sun Wukong, in the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West," directed by Yang Jie. The show has been rebroadcast more than 4,000 times over the years, becoming the most-watched TV series in Chinese history. His Monkey King has become the gold standard for every Monkey King performer.

But Zhang believes the novel itself, written by Wu Cheng'en of the Ming Dynasty, is magical and deep. "'Journey to the West' is a philosophical book that is easy to understand yet profound, appealing to both refined and popular tastes. People with different life experiences will have different insights and thoughts about it," he said. "Although I have acted in many TV series and films, the influence of all those characters combined is not even one ten-thousandth of that of the Monkey King."

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the TV series' debut. With its rich cultural tourism resources like the Wulongkou Scenic Area, also known as China's Monkey Mountain, Jiyuan in Henan province held the second Great Sage Cultural Arts Week and the 2026 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition, a retrospective exhibition dedicated to late director Yang Jie and a gala reuniting Zhang with his fellow cast and crew members from May 19 to 24.

Actor Zhang Jinlai (in red) poses with the original cast and crew of the popular TV series "Journey to the West" at a retrospective exhibition on career highlights of Yang Jie, the late director of "Journey to the West" and many other hit TV series, in Jiyuan, Henan province, May 21, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Henan Wangwu Cultural Tourism Group]

Originally a Shaoxing Opera performer, Zhang was particularly delighted by the recent events. As performers from different opera schools came to Jiyuan, he said, "This is the first time in history that so many shows related to the Monkey King of different opera styles have come together."

"The best monkey performances come from operas. If you want to play the Monkey King well, you must master the opera performance techniques of the Monkey King first. This is the foundation," he said.

During the cultural week, Zhang also went to a local school to give a lecture, launched his new book of memories, co-launched a "Journey to the West" cultural industry park, signed autographs, and helped open the Great Sage Culture and Art Museum in Jiyuan. This further marks the area as a world-class Monkey King cultural hub.

For Zhang, his "journey to the West" never ends. During the conversation with China.org.cn, the veteran actor reflected on whether AI could address the artistic shortcomings of his performance from 40 years ago, or even achieve technical feats that were once out of reach. He also mentioned that the Chinese government has paid close attention to cultural tourism and discussed how relevant parties could seize the opportunity to integrate all cultural tourism resources related to the Monkey King across the country.

Besides talking eloquently about his ideas and ambitions, on occasions, Zhang does indeed become nostalgic. Looking back in time to 40 years ago, Zhang recalled how he and his fellow cast and crew overcame every one of the challenges and made it happen. "People always ask me if I had any regrets during the making of the TV series. I say no, I have no regrets, because we put our hearts and souls into creating this show," he said.

Back in 2015, Ruyi Films and Paramount Pictures announced they wanted to do a U.S.-China co-production of "Journey to the West," with Zhang in the lead role. Zhang even went abroad to do motion capture. But the project has since stalled. With adjustments by Ruyi, which recently completed its acquisition of Wanda Film in April, the project has now transitioned to an animated feature.

Speaking on this, Zhang said, "I personally always feel that live action and animation are quite different." He further explained, "We'll see what the investors want and continue our discussions. So far, we are still looking for the right opportunity."

Zhang Jinlai performs with other Monkey King performers on stage at a gala to mark the 40th anniversary of the TV series "Journey to the West" in Jiyuan, Henan province, May 21, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Henan Wangwu Cultural Tourism Group]

The Monkey King legend hopes that China can use its collective strength to produce a major feature film of "Journey to the West," with advanced technology to work out visual effects and other technical aspects. He also expects many more projects to come. "I especially hope that in the Year of the Monkey in 2028, we can harness the power of the Monkey King to further expand its culture influence," he said.