Blades of the Guardians

Blades of the Guardians
Theatrical release poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	鏢人：風起大漠
Simplified Chinese	镖人：风起大漠
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Biāo Rén：Fēng Qǐ Dàmò
Directed by	Yuen Woo-ping
Screenplay by	Chao-Bin Su Larry Yang
Based on	Biao Ren by Xianzhe Xu
Produced by	Wu Jing Baimei Yu
Starring	Wu Jing Nicholas Tse Yu Shi Jet Li
Cinematography	Tony Cheung Tung-Leung
Music by	William Wu
Production companies	Woo Ping Pictures Beijing Damai Entertainment Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communications Company Mengqi Film Eagle Media Amazing Box Huaxia Film China Film Group[1]
Distributed by	Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communications Company Beijing Super Lion Culture Group (Mandarin China)
Release date	17 February 2026 (2026-02-17)
Running time	126 minutes[2]
Country	China
Language	Mandarin
Budget	US$123 million (¥850 million)[3]
Box office	US$$116.48 million[4][5]

Blades of the Guardians (Chinese: 镖人：风起大漠) is a 2026 Chinese epic martial arts film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, based on the manhua Biao Ren.[6][7] Produced by Damai Entertainment in association with Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communications Company and Woo Ping Pictures, the film stars Wu Jing in the titular role, alongside Nicholas Tse, Yu Shi, Chen Lijun, Zhang Jin, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Jet Li.[8]

The film was theatrically released in mainland China on February 17, 2026, during the Chinese New Year.[9][10]

This section needs expansion with: February 2026. You can help by adding missing information. (February 2026)

The film tells the story of Dao Ma, a legendary (bodyguard/escort) known as the "second most wanted criminal in the land," who is entrusted by his benefactor, Lao Mo, to escort Zhi Shilang, the "most wanted criminal in the land," whose mysterious identity is crucial to the fate of the nation, to Chang'an. This escort mission across the vast desert is fraught with danger, as various forces, including (bodyguards/escorts), government officials, and foreign merchants, are intertwined, leading to a series of life-or-death battles in the desolate Gobi Desert.

Dao Ma is the 2nd most wanted man, who travels around as a bounty hunter with his nephew. After visiting a small village and accepting a bribe from the target, he is propositioned by Governor Chang to be the new martial arts instructor of his troops. Dao Ma declines even though he is offered an expensive sword, as he prefers bounty hunting.

At another village, Dao Ma and his nephew stay at a modest inn run by a innkeeper and his family. Governor Chang's men show up and extort the innkeeper, who is revealed to be an infamous swordsman called the Two-Headed Snake. Dao Ma is vexed by Chang's interference in his bounty and suspects Chang is only doing so to force him to teach his troops. Two-Headed Snake and Dao Ma team up and defeat and kill Chang, only for Two-Headed Snake to also perish. Dao Ma grabs his nephew and flees, with the Governor's troops in hot pursuit.

Dao Ma takes refuge in Mojia Village, where the fierce Ayuya and her men are able to drive away Chang's troops. Ayuya is the chieftain's daughter and wishes to travel to the big city of Chang'an, however Dao Ma keeps her at bay. The Chieftain of Mojia Village Lao Mo did a lot for Dao Ma and now has called in a favour: Escort the revolutionary Zhishilang to safety before the Emperor's checkpoints and blockades keep him from leaving. Zhishilang's viewpoints opt for equality, so the Emperor's bounty makes him the number 1 highest bounty, higher than Dao Ma.

Dao Ma agrees to this journey, however before they depart Ayuya and her friend Ani decide to come along. Dao Ma is against this but Lao Mo convinces him to take her to Chang'an since she always wanted to go. Unbeknownst to Dao Ma, Lao Mo also wants to keep Ayuya safe because he cancelled her marriage to He Yixuan, the son of another clan who is still after her and considers Ayuya his bride still. Diting and One-eye are fierce warriors, they show up at the innkeeper's place and massacre some of Chang's troops, as they are seeking out Dao Ma for an unspecified reason.

While they are travelling by horse, the group is attacked by an assortment of bounty hunters and Chang's troops, who have caught up to them. After a fierce battle Zhishilang reveals he is not accustomed to rough travel and imposes himself into a horse drawn carriage, where another bounty hunter named Shu has his charge Yan Ziniang, a crafty woman with a bounty on her head. Shu keeps Yan Ziniang in chains because it took him two weeks to capture her, and he allows the party to join his carriage.

Shu tricks the party into taking a shortcut in order to ambush them, he wants to keep his current bounty, and also collect on Dao Ma and Zhishilang's bounty as well, in order to be considered the greatest swordsman in the land. Dao Ma engages him in combat in an oil field, and when he defeats Shu has the chance to burn him to death, but opts for mercy. Shu awkwardly accepts and will no longer try to attack them for the rest of the journey.

He Yixuan is able to pitch to other clan leaders that someone is aiding Zhishilang and tries to make them all swear an oath of fealty to Pei Shiju, who is now in charge of the troops in the area. When Lao Mo refuses to do so, He Yixuan brings in some mercenary raiders to buff up his forces, and Lao Ma realizes they will be coming after Mojia Village, and also be after Ayuya.

Mojia Village evacuates most of its occupants and the rest stay for battle, but the mercenary raiders and He Yixuan takes over Mojia Village, then go after Dao Ma and his party. He Yixuan shows Ayuya the head of her own father, and a battle starts. Before Ayuya and Dao Ma can defeat them, the other clan leaders show up and witness the bodies of their sons defeated by Dao Ma, and He Yixuan is able to rile them into a frenzy to go after Dao Ma's group. The clans give chase, but Dao Ma's party is pincered by the arrival of two of his old colleagues, Diting and One-eye. Dao Ma leads his group into the sandstorm and are followed by the clans. When the storm settles, Dao Ma's nephew says he witnessed He Yixuan take away Ayuya. Dao Ma continues his mission to lead Zhishilang to safety before time runs out.

At the boat crossing, Dao Ma says he cannot take Zhishilang the rest of the way and offers Shu a large amount to finish the journey, and also keep an eye on his nephew. Shu agrees but Zhishilang refuses to go since He Yixuan wants him. Zhishilang offers himself up to trade for Ayuya.

At Mojia Village, the mercenary raiders and He Yixuan have set up their troops, and He Yixuan gets drunk and prepares to assault Ayuya. Ani breaks in and tries to defeat him, but she is quickly overpowered by the raiders. He Yixuan is about to finish what he was doing when he is told Dao Ma has returned, but with Zhishilang. At the gates, Dao Ma demands the release of Ayuya and a prisoner swap. He Yixuan pretends he doesn't need Zhishilang alive but then relents and trades someone in a sack. Dao Ma sends over Zhishilang but his person is revealed to be a dying Ani. He Yixuan laughs at his trick but Dao Ma engages the troops in battle. Zhishilang also does the same, because he is actually Shu, who swapped clothes earlier in order to help out.

The mercenary raiders gives Dao Ma and Shu a run for their money, and they fight their way throughout the village. He Yixuan begins to slaughter innocent civilians and Pei Shiju gives up his command in order to fight against them. Just when all hope is lost, the mercenary raiders receive new orders to withdraw and stop their support of He Yixuan. A dimwitted soldier of He Yixuan's helps Ayuya escape, and when He Yixuan returns to her she is able to take revenge for her father.

Diting and One-eye return but they have captured Zhishilang and his nephew. We find out why they are there. Their mission is to grab Dao Ma's nephew, who is revealed to be an heir to the throne. The Emperor fears him and views him as a challenger for the throne. Dao Ma was able to save his nephew but couldn't escape another faction of specialized warriors sent to eliminate them, but Diting was able help his escape. The Emperor offered Diting and One-eye and even Dao Ma clemency if they returned Dao Ma's nephew to the Emperor. Dao Ma cannot hand over his nephew and engages Diting in combat. Shu faces off with One-eye. Shu is able to defeat One-eye, and even though Diting has kept his fighting skills sharp Dao Ma has not. Dao Ma is able to tackle them both off a wall and onto the ground below, and Dao Ma sacrifices a strike to himself in order to give a fatal blow to Diting.

Dao Ma heals from his injuries and continues his wandering with his nephew.

• Wu Jing as Dao Ma
• Nicholas Tse as Diting
• Yu Shi as Shu
• Chen Lijun as Ayuya
• Sun Yizhou as Zhi Shilang
• Ci Sha as He Yixuan
• Li Yunxiao as Yan Ziniang
• Tony Leung Ka-fai as Lao Mo
• Zhang Jin as Two-headed snake
• Kara Wai as Madam Yuchi
• Zhang Yi as Pei Shiju
• Jet Li as Chang
• Wen Junhui as Yuji Niuluo
• Liu Yaowen as Pei Xingyan
• Dong Sicheng as Da Lai

The film was registered and green-lit in May 2023,[11][12] then in December 2023, it was revealed that Yuen Woo-ping will direct the live-action film.[13] In June 2024, it was announced that Wu Jing will produce the film and star as the lead role Dao Ma, with Nicholas Tse joining the cast.[14][15][16] In the following months, Yu Shi and Jet Li joined the cast.[17][18][19][20] The project was an adaptation of the Biao Ren manhua by Xu Xianzhe. Director Yuen Woo-ping and producer/star Wu Jing were attracted by the traditional chivalrous code and contemporary sentiment contained in the comic after reading it, and the project was positioned as a "comic book adaptation martial arts blockbuster" aimed at revitalizing martial arts films.[21]

To meet Yuen Woo-ping's high standards for action scenes, all main actors had to join the crew in advance before filming began, undergoing systematic closed training including traditional martial arts, swordsmanship, and horse riding. To closely resemble the protagonist's character, Wu Jing made long-term physical preparations, growing a beard and long hair in advance, and undergoing rigorous equestrian and action training.[22]

Principal photography officially began in Xinjiang and Beijing on July 26, 2024.[23][24][25], and the first round of shooting wrapped on November 27 of the same year.[24][26]

In June 2025, when the film had been completed and entered the post-production stage, the lead actress, Nashi, who played the important role of Ayuya, was embroiled in controversy related to her educational background. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Joint Working Group issued a notice stating that she was suspected of falsifying her college entrance examination application materials.[27] Previously, she had been exposed for being admitted to the Shanghai Theatre Academy with a lower score through the Inner Mongolia "targeted training" policy, but she failed to fulfill the agreement and returned to her hometown to work, which was suspected of being a breach of contract.[28]

This incident triggered widespread public questioning of educational fairness and celebrity privilege, and the storm quickly spread to the film project. The production company immediately removed her from the list of lead actors.[29] Since the role was involved throughout the film, simple deletion was not feasible, and the film, which was originally scheduled to be released in 2025, faced the double crisis of delay and reshoots.[30]

In order to minimize the impact of the Nashi incident on the film, the production company finally decided to replace the actress and organize an 11-day reshoot[31][32], Yue opera actress Chen Lijun took over the role of Ayuya.[31] According to multiple media reports, the reshoots have significantly increased the total cost of the film from approximately RMB 550 million to RMB 650 million to 700 million[33], and the film's original release date of 2025 has been postponed as a result.[34] Ultimately, the budget increased to RMB 850 million.[3]

This section needs expansion with: February 2026. You can help by adding missing information. (February 2026)

This section needs expansion with: February 2026. You can help by adding missing information. (February 2026)

The film was released on 17 February 2026, with Well Go USA Entertainment handling the film's North American distribution.[6]

This section needs expansion with: February 2026. You can help by adding missing information. (February 2026)

• Blades of the Guardians at IMDb
• Blades of the Guardians at Douban (in Chinese)
• Blades of the Guardians at Mtime.com (archived) (in Chinese)
• Blades of the Guardians at Rotten Tomatoes