
Two loser high school students meet a wandering old man with unparalleled martial arts skills. Together, they not only strive to restore justice to their city but also unravel the mystery of the old man’s identity.
Kung Fu is an action-fantasy, upcoming martial arts adventure film made in Taiwan produced by Giddens Ko. It’s among the biggest Taiwanese film productions of the last decade, and has an estimated budget of US$9.1 million (NT$300 million). The film is an adaptation of one Ko’s novels (originally released on the internet on the internet in 2001). It is expected to release in time of the lunar New Year holiday in February 2026.
The story follows two high school losers who are able to help an elderly man who is homeless and discover the man is a kung-fu master who was engaged in a long-running conflict. Alongside him they set out on a quest to find justice to their city and defuse a 500-year-old rift. They become his students, start to learn kung-fu and face external foes as well as their own weaknesses. The story combines the world of mentorship, action, fantasy as well as personal development.
“Kung Fu” (this film) seeks to blend the classic martial-arts motifs with modern stories that feature the underdog, ancient grudges masters and their disciples, the notion it is the combination of talent, skill and self-belief can change ordinary people. The audience can expect high-energy action as well as the elements of fantasy (the old grudge or perhaps mysterious kung fu) as well as character development relationships, romance, maybe friendships and moral lessons on the importance of courage. It also pays homage to classic kung fu movies and attempting to create new originality in the genre and choreography.
Strengths could include strong fight choreography strong VFX, a captivating underdog tale, adored actors, and a strong cultural resonance in the Lunar New Year release.
The risks might be that the newness of kung fu and fantasy must be balanced with a sense of humor and that the loss of the style of the original novel when adapting it could turn off some fans; or that the high expectations from a big budget may result in criticisms if certain scenes seem stale.
Q1 When and when will Kung Fu releasing?
A1 The plan is to launch during this Lunar New Year holiday in Taiwan and Chinese-language markets during the month of February in 2026.
Q2 Who are the principal performers?
A2: Kai Ko and Gingle Wang are the main actors. Other supporting actors include Leon Dai, Berant Zhu and Liu Kuan-ting.
Q3 Is it based upon the book?
A3 Yes Giddens Ko’s work, which was published on the internet in 2001 and is the basis for. The movie adaptation has made some changes to the kung-fu story and its origins, but it is not as good as the novel.
Question 4: What type of kung fu/fantasy elements are there?
A4 It has an old kung-fu master and a 500-year-old struggle (a grudge) as well as discipleship. All of this is combined with contemporary setting (high school and city). Action and fantasy are a given.
Q5: Who’s creating the action sequences / effect?
A5: Korean stunt director Chang Jae-wook and the team of action from Triple A are responsible for choreography for action. Visual effects are provided by WWWind Studio (Taiwan).
Q6 Who is the intended viewers?
A6 People who love fantasy and martial arts films, stories about underdogs young adults, those who love action and heart, and who love Taiwanese cinema. It is also likely to draw attention in the holiday season.
Kung Fu looks like a promising fantasy of martial arts film with the right budget with talent, ambition, and budget to make a splash. It combines classic kung fu tropes (master grudge, disciple, master) with contemporary settings and young characters. If it can deliver on the emotional and visual aspects it could be one of the most memorable Taiwanese films in 2026. However, much will depend on how it is executed — fighting scenes and character development, as well as pacing.