 |
| Jackson Yee in Resurrection: How He Became a Bald, Pale Monster for His Most Daring Role Yet |
At only 24, Jackson Yee (Yi Yangqianxi) has already left a solid mark in the Chinese film industry — but his latest project, Resurrection (狂野时代), might just be his boldest yet.
The newly released trailer left audiences stunned and confused, with many unable to even recognise him on screen.
Gone is the polished idol image — in its place stands a bald, hunched, decaying creature straight out of a nightmare.
A Transformation Beyond Recognition
In Resurrection, Jackson takes on five drastically different roles — from a deceitful man named Qiu Moyun, to a regretful son, to Apollo, a character embodying the sense of touch, and even a grotesque monster representing the visual realm.
For the latter, he went through intense physical training to perfect the twisted posture, reportedly practising walking bent over for months.
The commitment was so extreme that he suffered muscle strain even after filming wrapped.
The result?
A performance so immersive that fans called him a “madman of cinema” — a term of praise in film circles, highlighting his ability to disappear completely into his characters.
Pushing Artistic Boundaries
Directed by Bi Gan, Resurrection is set in a surreal world where humans have lost the ability to dream, except for a few.
The movie explores five interconnected storylines, each tied to one of the five senses — vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
Alongside Jackson Yee, the film stars Shu Qi and Mark Chao, forming a powerhouse ensemble.
The project has already been showered with international acclaim — it snagged the Special Award at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and the Artistic Contribution Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
The film is slated for release on 22 November 2025, and anticipation is building with each teaser.
“Let the Character Swallow Me Whole”
Behind the scenes, Jackson’s dedication to his craft borders on spiritual.
According to reports, he once even asked not to be credited in promotional materials for his previous films Little Big Man and She’s Got No Name, hoping audiences would discover him naturally through his roles instead.
Though the idea wasn’t implemented, it shows just how much he values artistic authenticity over fame.
Director Yang Ma revealed that when Jackson first appeared on set as one of his characters, “the team fell silent — it felt like the soul of the film had arrived.”
From Better Days (少年的你) to Resurrection, his acting journey has been about peeling away the “idol” label to reach a state of pure performance — where he becomes the character completely, no matter how ugly, strange, or broken.
Fans React: “He’s Unrecognisable, and That’s the Point”
Chinese netizens flooded social media with reactions ranging from shock to awe.
“From a muddy teenager to a hunchbacked monster, every role feels like a different person,” one commented.
Another wrote, “When you can’t find Jackson Yee in the monster’s face, that’s when you know he’s achieved the ultimate goal — letting the character devour him.”
With the full release approaching and more “five senses” chapters yet to be revealed, fans are curious to see whether any of his other personas can top the spine-chilling “monster” performance that’s already dominating discussions online.
Source: 3g.china.com