Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese封神第一部：朝歌風雲
Simplified Chinese封神第一部：朝歌风云
Directed byWuershan
Written by
  • Ran Ping
  • Ran Jianan
  • Wuershan
  • Cao Sheng
Based onInvestiture of the Gods
by Xu Zhonglin
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWang Yu
Edited by
  • Ka-Fai Cheung
  • Yuan Du
  • Shuo Huang
Music byGordy Haab
Production
companies
  • Tencent Pictures
  • Beijing Jingxi Culture & Tourism
  • Mongketengri Pictures
  • Dongyang Mongketengri Film & TV Production
  • Tianjin Maoyan Weiying Cultural Media
  • Shanghai Tencent Penguin Pictures
  • Qingdao Haifa Pictures
Distributed by
Release date
  • July 20, 2023 (2023-07-20) (China)
Running time
148 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Budget¥800 million[1] ($110.3 million)
Box office$1373.9 million[2]

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (Chinese: 封神第一部：朝歌风云; lit. 'Investiture of the Gods Part One: Zhaoge Turmoil') is a 2023 Chinese epic fantasy film directed by Wuershan. It is the first film in the Creation of the Gods trilogy, adapted from the 16th-century fantasy novel Investiture of the Gods written by the Ming dynasty author Xu Zhonglin. The film feature an ensemble cast which includes Fei Xiang, Li Xuejian, Huang Bo, Yu Shi, Chen Muchi, Narana Erdyneeva, and Xia Yu.

The first film mainly narrates the fantastic and fictitious version of the political fallout following the ascension of the last king of Shang dynasty. It is the 25th highest-grossing film ever in China, and the trilogy is considered to be the most ambitious and expensive Chinese production ever made.[3][4] It won several accolades, including the 2023 Golden Rooster Award for Best Picture, and was nominated for the 2023 Golden Deer Award.

The film was released in China on July 20, 2023. Following its important success in its origin country, it was released in the USA by Well Go USA in September 22, 2023 and later internationally.[5] It received mixed reviews from critics.

The two sequel films of the trilogy, Demonic Confrontation and Creation Under Heaven, were due to be released in 2024 and 2025, respectively, but the release of the second one has been delayed because the post-production is not finished yet due to the complexity of the visual effects.[6] The second film will focus on Xiqi's defense against Shang's attack, while the third film features Xiqi's counterattack, eventual victory and establishment of the Zhou dynasty.[7]

  1. ^ "太难了！封神第一部成本8亿，回本需24亿". 新浪. 2023-07-26. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  2. ^ "Fēng Shén Dì Yī Bù (封神第一部) (2023)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  3. ^ Huang, Wendy (August 19, 2023). "How Chinese Netizens Boosted the Buzz for the 'Creation of the Gods' Blockbuster". What's on Weibo. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  4. ^ 内地总票房排名 [All-Time Domestic Box Office Rankings]. 中国票房 (China Box Office) (in Chinese). 艺恩 ENDATA Inc. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Dream retold for the silver screen". China Daily. 2023-07-27. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  6. ^ Vic (May 18, 2024). ""Creation of the Gods" Sequel Announces Delay". DramaPanda. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "《封神第一部》如何九年磨一剑" [How did "Creation of the Gods I" take 9 years to develop?]. CCTV (in Chinese). Beijing Youth Daily. 2023-07-22. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.