The story follows the serene monk (William Feng) and his three supernatural disciples— Sun Wukong (Aaron Kwok), Zhu Bajie (Xiao Shenyang), and Sha Wujing (Him Law)—as they inadvertently cross into the Womanland of Western Liang .
The Monkey King 3 (2018), directed by Soi Cheang, is the third installment in the high-budget Chinese fantasy franchise based on the 16th-century literary classic Journey to the West . While the previous films focused on heavy action and the Monkey King's origins, this entry takes a romantic and comedic detour into the "Kingdom of Women".
Let’s indulge in the speculation. Based on early concept art leaked in 2017, Monkey King 3 was going to feature: monkey king 3
: In this mysterious realm, no men have ever set foot, and the inhabitants are raised to believe that men are "poisonous" and deceptive.
Their presence angers the River God (Lin Chi-ling), leading to a massive flood that threatens to destroy the entire kingdom. Sun Wukong must use his magical transformations and combat skills to battle the deity and find a way for the group to escape the magical net surrounding the land. Cast and Creative Team The story follows the serene monk (William Feng)
The short answer is that Monkey King 3 was officially announced, heavily anticipated, and then seemingly vanished. As of 2026, the film remains one of the most famous "missing" blockbusters in Chinese cinema history. Here is the definitive, deep-dive history of The Monkey King 3 : the announcements, the delays, and the legacy.
Here is the current status:
Audiences started to suffer from "Wukong overload." Filmko realized that even if they could fund Monkey King 3 , the public appetite for live-action CGI monkey epics was waning.
A powerful, androgynous deity whose anger triggers the film's climax. Let’s indulge in the speculation
So why isn’t Monkey King 3 in theaters today? The answer is a combination of corporate scandal, financial collapse, and creative fatigue.