Jing Wu
Birthdate: Apr 3, 1974
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Wu Jing is one of China’s most successful movie stars and martial artists and has starred in several mainland Chinese blockbusters. Discovered by martial arts fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, Wu was first cast in the Hong Kong action movie, Tai Chi Boxer (1996).
Wu’s breakthrough happened with Wilson Yip’s Hong Kong cop thriller, SPL: Sha Po Lang (2005), opposite all-stars Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, and Simon Yam; a decade later, Wu co-starred in the long-delayed, Yip-produced sequel, SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015), with Tony Jaa, Simon Yam, and Louis Koo, and grossing a strong $90 million worldwide.
Wu starred in more Hong Kong action hits including Fatal Contact (2006), Twins Mission (2007), Invisible Target (2007), and Fatal Move (2008). Wu’s Hollywood debut was in the Rob Cohen-directed sequel with Brendan Fraser and Jet Li, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), grossing a powerful $403 million global gross for Universal Pictures. Wu Jing’s debut as a director-star was Legendary Assassin (2008), with Nicky Li as the fight choreographer.
Wu soon followed, after two back-to-back movies with genre specialist director Jeffrey Lau, with another all-star vehicle with the China-Hong Kong co-production directed by Benny Chan, Shaolin (2011), co-starring Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Jackie Chan, and Fan Bingbing.
Wu’s greatest triumph to date was as director-star of a pair of sensational hits--Wolf Warrior (2015), with Scott Adkins and Yu Nan, and Wolf Warrior 2 (2017), which Wu also co-wrote and produced, with Celina Jade, Frank Grillo, Hans Zhang, and grossing $874 million, making it the highest-grossing non-English film of all time until 2021—when Wu appeared as star of The Battle of Lake Changjin, a highly controversial Korean War-set epic co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, and Dante Lam, and earning a stunning $913 million globally; it spawned a sequel (also commissioned by the Chinese Communist Party’s film propaganda division), The Battle of Lake Changjin II (2022), again co-directed by Chen, Hark, and Lam, and earning $626 million.
Wu Jing’s name became synonymous with blockbusters, including another hit series, the science fiction epic directed by Frant Gwo, The Wandering Earth (2019), based on Liu Cixin’s story, and tallying a stunning $700 million gross; the film’s unexpected success triggered a prequel, The Wandering Earth 2 (2023), starring Andy Lau and grossing $604 million.
Wu directed and starred in the segment titled Windriders in the Chinese anthology movie, My Country, My Parents (2021), set during the 1942 Second Sino-Japanese War. Wu Jing returned to co-starring in a Hollywood-produced movie in Warner Bros.’ The Meg 2: The Trench (2023), directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Jason Statham, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, and Cliff Curtis.
Personal Details
Wu Jing was born and raised in Beijing by his parents. His father, like his grandfather, was a martial artist and sent Wu to Beijing Wushu Academy at six years old. Wu married Xie Nan in 2013; the couple has one child. Wu’s height is 5’ 9”.
Filmography
actor
Previous (29)
- 2023 | Meg 2: The TrenchasJiuming Zhang
Meg 2: The Trench
A research team encounters multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean, including a malevolent mining operation.
- 2023 |
- 2023 | The Wandering Earth IIasLiu Peiqiang
The Wandering Earth II
Humans built huge engines on the surface of the earth to find a new home. But the road to the universe is perilous. In order to save earth, young people once again have to step forward to start a race against time for life and death.
- 2022 | Water Gate BridgeasWu Qianli
Water Gate Bridge
Sequel to "The Battle at Lake Changjin". Follows the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers on a new task, and now their battlefield is a crucial bridge on the retreat route of American troops.
- 2021 | Wolf Warrior IIIas Leng Feng
- 2021 | The Battle at Lake ChangjinasWu Qianli
The Battle at Lake Changjin
In the fierce battlefield in the midst of the harsh weather conditions, Wu Qian Li and Wu Wan Li, two brothers soldier including the brave Chinese soldiers must fight together and find a way to cope with the invasion of US forces.
- 2021 | My Country, My ParentsasMa Renxing
My Country, My Parents
Included as the third installment of "National Day Celebration" trilogy with My People, My Country (2019) and My People, My Homeland (2020), My Country, My Parents focuses on four Chinese families in four different eras. Combined ...
- 2019 | Saigon Bodyguards Remakeas Norma Cleaver
- 2019 | My People, My CountryasChen Dongdong (Adult)
My People, My Country
An anthology film consist of 7 short stories directed by several different directors, which are based on 7 moments since the founding of People's Republic of China.
- 2019 | The ClimbersasFang Wuzhou
The Climbers
The four members of the China Everest Climbing Commando confront the most difficult mount. The first four failures have cost them too much physical strength until the wind and snow stop the gap.
- 2019 | Looking UpasPan Wanli
Looking Up
When his space shuttle flight has an accident, an astronaut remembers the lessons his father taught him growing up.
- 2019 | The Wandering EarthasLiu Peiqiang
The Wandering Earth
As the sun is dying out, people all around the world build giant planet thrusters to move Earth out of its orbit and sail Earth to a new star system. Yet the 2500-year journey comes with unexpected dangers, and in order to save hu...
- 2017 | Wolf Warrior 2asLeng Feng
Wolf Warrior 2
China's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector.
- 2016 | A Chinese Odyssey: Part Threeas Self
- 2016 | Call of Heroesas Army Commander
- 2015 | Kill Zone 2as Chan Chi-Kit
- 2015 | Wolf Warrioras Leng Feng
- 2011 | Happy Magicas Bi Yewu
- 2011 | Shaolinas Chingneng
- 2010 | City Under Siegeas Sun Hao
- 2010 | Wind Blastas Yang Xiaoming
- 2008 | Legendary Assassinas Bo Tong Lam
- 2007 | Invisible Targetas Tien Yeng Seng
- 2007 | Twins Missionas Lau Hey
- 2006 | Fatal Contactas Kong Ko
- 2005 | Kill Zoneas Jack
- 2003 | Drunken Monkeyas Great Uncle Tak
- 1996 | Tai Chi IIas Hawkman
- 1995 | One and a Halfas Po Kwong
Some Facts About Jing Wu
The Eyes Have It: Wu Jing, although being a brilliant martial artist, is near-sighted, and has been known to unintentionally punch his opposing players in the face during filming.
AKA: Wu has also gone by the screen name, Jacky Wu.
Celebrity: Wu Jing is ranked as one of China’s most profitable movie actors, and has also ranked at the top of Forbes China Celebrity 100 list.
Savior: While starring in the science fiction movie, The Wandering Earth, Wu learned that the production was about to shut down for lack of funding; he stepped in and personally provided the needed funding to finish the film, which went to earn a spectacular box-office return of $700 million and spawned a sequel.
