The GrandmastersWong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmasters has been one of the most anticipated and long-awaited films in recent memory.

It’s one that we’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and after hearing less than we’d have liked to from the film over its long road to the big screen, the first full-length trailer has finally landed online ahead of its release in China next month, and it’s rather amazing.

“With martial arts getting more popular in the Thirties, more people seek to learn them via the professionals at Foshan in Southern China. Some of the experienced masters like to challenge their counterparts and undergoing battles. To have their whole concentration, it is their practice to lock up the venues and no one is allowed to leave during battles. No food and no rest before reaching any results.

Ip Man is a young rich man extremely talented in martial arts, but he chooses to keep a low profile. Yet this doesn’t keep him out of these troubles ahead. One day he is trapped in this battleground so he has to use every means in order to get out of there. The masters are amazed by his abilities. Master Kung and his daughter Kung Yi are amongst, and the latter is attracted to this newcomer.

A high warlord is assassinated by his own guard Yi Xian Tian. All masters in Foshan vow to take Tian down no matter what…”

Tony Leung takes the role as the renowned Ip Man, alongside Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Zhao Benshan, and Song Hye Gyo.

The Grandmasters will be released in China on 18th December, with a Hong Kong release set for Christmas Day. Still no word yet on a UK or US release, but Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures have the rights for the film Stateside, so hopefully we’ll have word of a distributor picking it up across the Atlantic, and with any luck, a UK release at the same time. It looks awesome. Here’s the first trailer to show you just how much. Enjoy.

[yframe url=’www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ngxn9NzLzs’]