LayarHijau– Noon Sunshine — the acclaimed studio behind hit dramas such as Nirvana in Fire and All Is Well — has officially confirmed that its first-ever feature film, De Xian Jin Zhi (得闲谨制), will be released in cinemas across China starting December 6, 2025. Along with the announcement, the studio also unveiled a new poster and a “Fight for Home” teaser that captures the tense atmosphere as ordinary people brace themselves for an imminent battle to protect their homeland.
This war-themed film stars Xiao Zhan, Peng Yuchang, and Zhou Yiran. The story is set during the Battle of Western Hubei (1940–1943). Machinist Mo Dexian (played by Xiao Zhan) flees with his family to a remote mountain village called Gezhizhen in Hubei, where many civilians seek refuge from the conflict. But when a group of Japanese soldiers suddenly appears, that fragile peace is destroyed. The villagers, who once only wished to survive, are forced to rise and defend the land they call home.
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In the official poster, Mo Dexian stands at the entrance of the village gripping a large hammer, directly confronting the invading troops. The image reflects the powerful spirit of an ordinary man refusing to surrender. Audience excitement surged quickly on ticketing platforms like Maoyan, where the film shot to the top of the trending charts and early pre-sales surpassed 5 million yuan in a short time.
A teaser trailer for #dexianjinzhi a new war movie starred by #xiaozhan #pengyuchang and #ZhouYiran
Source: Weibo pic.twitter.com/78wpLo0FCc
— Layar Hijau (@layar_hijau) November 28, 2025
A long-awaited reunion of Noon Sunshine’s powerhouse creative trio
De Xian Jin Zhi once again brings together director Kong Sheng, screenwriter Lan Xiaolong, and producer Hou Hongliang — the same creative team behind the classic war series The Line of Life and Death (生死线).
The screenplay is adapted from Lan Xiaolong’s original work about the Defense of Yichang, a story he refined over several years. Structured in three key phases — the fall of Nanjing, the loss of Yichang, and the Shipai victory — it reveals how ordinary people gradually awaken to fight back.
Instead of focusing on large-scale military strategies, the film approaches war from a micro perspective: a hidden village that suddenly becomes a frontline. Lan Xiaolong also weaves in elements of dark humor and absurdity born from extreme survival situations.
Director Kong Sheng admitted this project was far more demanding than expected. “I wanted to make a simpler film,” he said, “but ended up choosing the most difficult one. This is a completely unpredictable story.”
Xiao Zhan’s total transformation
Xiao Zhan sheds his usual idol image, appearing covered in grime and dressed like a worn-out factory worker — simple rough clothing, dust, and mud layered onto his body. Mo Dexian evolves from a father desperate to save his family into a leader who inspires a civilian uprising.
Peng Yuchang portrays an artillery commander separated from his main unit, while Zhou Yiran plays Xia Cheng, Mo Dexian’s wife, shown in the teaser shielding their child amid artillery fire and chaos.
The title De Xian Jin Zhi refers to the engraving on a handmade weapon created by Mo Dexian. “De Xian” is his name, while “Jin Zhi” means “made with care and responsibility.” It reflects the traditional spirit of craftsmanship — being accountable for one’s creations — and symbolizes Mo Dexian’s greater responsibility to protect everyone relying on him.
The film was shot over 90 days in Yichang, Hubei, where the production team built a full-scale Gezhizhen village set to authentically recreate the era.
A year-end dark horse candidate
Although December is not typically a peak box office season in China, the competition remains strong. De Xian Jin Zhi will be released alongside several notable titles, including the crime thriller Integrity 2 starring Aaron Kwok and Simon Yam, and the sci-fi arthouse drama My Father’s Son, which was previously selected for the Shanghai International Film Festival.
With Noon Sunshine’s reputation for high-quality storytelling, a theme of civilian resistance that resonates emotionally, and a cast with strong box office draw, the film is viewed as a promising contender for a major breakout by year’s end.
If it meets audience expectations, De Xian Jin Zhi could mark an impressive feature-film debut for Noon Sunshine and further prove that stories of ordinary people’s courage still strike powerfully with today’s moviegoers.
