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‘The Great Wall’, Starring Matt Damon, is a Monster Movie?! (Trailer)
While it’s seemingly coming out of nowhere, The Great Wall has been in the works for quite some time. In fact, we reported back in 2012 that Ed Zwick had dropped out of the project that could have starred Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter‘s Benjamin Walker, Man of Steel‘s Henry Cavill, or even Zhang Ziyi.
We also reported that it was actually a monster movie set in 15th century China, and about British warriors who happen upon the hurried construction of the massive wall. As night falls, the warriors realize that the haste in building the wall isn’t just to keep out the Mongols — there is something inhuman and more dangerous.
Now, Legendary East has actually completed the film, which stars Matt Damon, Willem Dafoe (Antichrist, Spider-Man), Pedro Pascal (“Game of Thrones”), as well as Chinese superstar Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs, which was remade as The Departed), pop icon Luhan, and actress Jing Tian (who will also appear in next year’s Kong: Skull Island).
Directed by Yimou Zhang (Hero, House of Flying Daggers)… it’s still a monster movie.
EW shared the first ever images to go along with fresh info on the pic, which will be released in 3D on February 17, 2017.
“This is a Hollywood monster movie and needs to be made in that style,” Zhang told the site.
“The film takes place about 1,000 years ago. At its core, it is a period piece and an action film. The fantasy element does play a major role because of the monsters. But, what makes our film unique is that these are ancient Chinese monsters. Even though it’s a fantasy movie, we filmed it in a very realistic way. We want it to feel like the events actually happened. Other than the monster, all aspects of this film are backed by either scientific or historical research.”
Now, Legendary has just released the first trailer, with the aforementioned images below.
We have an exclusive first look at A Man in the Woods With an Axe, a blood-soaked, genre-twisting homage to 1980s slasher films.
Spanning four decades, A Man in the Woods With an Axe begins in the summer of 1987 before pushing into the modern era, weaving together timelines and perspectives in a way that builds both dread and intrigue.
Drawing inspiration from genre standouts like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Hatchet, and The Cabin in the Woods, the film blends visceral horror with moments of dark humor, creating a uniquely balanced experience that honors tradition while carving its own identity.
Writer-director Dillon Brown (Primal Darkness) aims to deliver everything fans crave from a slasher while boldly subverting expectations with a mid-film twist that redefines the story.
“This is an unapologetic love letter to the films that made me fall in love with horror,” Brown tells Bloody Disgusting. “But I didn’t just want to recreate that feeling; I wanted to challenge it. About halfway through, the film takes a turn that completely changes how you view not only this story, but the genre itself.”
Brown describes the vintage-inspired production as “far and away the bloodiest film I’ve ever made,” with practical effects helmed by Cody Ruch (The Mill, Pig Hill), an instructor at Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program.
From Horror Dadz Productions, A Man in the Woods With an Axe is currently in production and targeting an early 2027 release.
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