Actor Xiao Shenyang. [Photo provided to China Daily]

To many Chinese, the character of Pigsy as played by Chinese actor Ma Dehua in the hit TV series Journey to the West (1986), is legendary. But the pig is in for an onscreen change with The Monkey King 2 movie scheduled for release on Feb 8, the date on which Chinese will celebrate Lunar New Year.

In the sequel to the 2014 hit movie, Pigsy will be part man, part pig. And, celebrity comedian Shen He, more familiar to Chinese fans by his pseudonym Xiao Shenyang, will be seen playing the role of Pigsy (Zhu Baijie in Chinese).

"The stereotyped Pigsy is a bit disgusting with his lazy and cheating nature. But I will try to bring the audiences a new version," Shen said at a recent Beijing event.

Shen shot to fame in 2009 through China's most popular annual TV show, the Spring Festival Gala on CCTV.