Retelling a romantic legend

However, the centuries-old tragedy is infused with a lighthearted and comedic tone, marking a breakthrough in the legend's history. Many critics praised this approach for making the story more accessible to the younger generation of moviegoers.

"We have reshaped Xu's personality as a brave man who sticks to what he believes in, even at the cost of fighting against authority and sacrificing his life," says Yu.

Widely regarded as a more modern, value-infused attempt, the second installment in the franchise — Green Snake — elevates Xiaoqing, often a subordinate character in the famous love story, to center stage as the protagonist. It highlights the sisterhood and friendship between Xiaoqing and Bai.

With the country's unprecedented advancements in cinematic techniques, the franchise has managed to vividly bring to life the lively and bustling urban life of the Tang and Song dynasties.

"The White Snake has evolved. From the snakes' scales to facial expressions, everything is more vividly detailed," says Yu.

As the franchise's executive producer, he also revealed that the creative team traveled to Hangzhou multiple times for inspiration. Using archival materials and ancient paintings, such as Along the River During the Qingming Festival, a masterpiece by painter Zhang Zeduan from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), they created a detailed map of the city of Lin'an.

Building on its success in China, the third sequel White Snake: Afloat is scheduled for release in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia on Feb 13 and the Philippines on Feb 19. The film will also be released in more Western countries. Linda Jaivin, an Australian Sinologist who assisted in the film's English subtitle translations, added a unique touch to some of the poetic lines inspired by classic literature.

By exporting popular films like these to international audiences, China's rich folktales and traditional culture are gaining greater global recognition, industry insiders note.

Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn