From martial arts to monkeying around

Zhang Jizhong is taking a break from Louis Cha's wuxia novels - but this doesn't mean there's any let-up in his grueling routine.

After he has wrapped up the TV adaptation of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (Yitian Tulongji), 57-year-old Zhang will focus on the pre-production of a film trilogy on Monkey King (pictured), the main character in this ancient classic, Journey to the West (Xiyouji).

"It is hard for me to surpass the audience ratings and sales my wuxia series have created," he says.