Director interview: Mu Zhengyang

Mu told the Global Times he grew up on Chinese classics like Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms and "always wondered why no one had tackled the Eight Immortals." Rather than depict them as aloof, perfect beings, the film reimagines them as flawed, relatable mortals with personal desires and conflicts: "In our story, eternal life and flying on clouds don't make you a god. In the end, only these eight step forward to protect the people. True divinity isn't about power — it's about having the courage to stand up for others."[1]

Speaking to China.org.cn, Mu said he was drawn to the group as a rare example of mortals who achieved immortality: folk tradition calls them "scattered immortals," not fully part of the heavenly bureaucracy but deeply rooted in folk traditions — "this contradiction is what makes the group special." He also found appeal in the source material itself: "their legends are messy, inconsistent, passed down from generation to generation without any single version. That actually made it interesting."[2]

In the film, these flawed, self-interested misfits uncover a conspiracy in the celestial bureaucracy; their dreams of riches vanish and their lives are threatened, yet they hold onto decency when it counts. Mu put it this way: "I want to tell the story of these small people... Because they are mortals, they have strengths and weaknesses, even doubts and struggles. But many ordinary people step forward when it comes to right and wrong."[2]

Mu made the same point to China Daily about the action design: "We never wanted to give them a 'magic shortcut'. Their victories had to come from cooperation and creativity" — the human protagonists overcome powerful immortals through teamwork and ingenuity rather than unrealistic advantages.[3]

Mu revealed that the English title All Wishes Come True! underscores the film's core theme of "granting every wish" — the narrative throughline that drives the immortals' journey from self-interest to selfless heroism. "I want audiences to know that doing the right thing will always matter, even if the result isn't immediate. Someone told me they decided to become a kinder person after watching. That's exactly it."[1]

China.org.cn detailed the visual approach: drawing from ancient classics, the team built the mythical Penglai realm and delved into the traditional five-color visual system, embroidery patterns and the landscapes of classical immortal mountains, integrating elements from murals, Chinese New Year paintings and traditional costumes into character designs and settings. The overall look is slightly retro but brightened for a youthful feel — "our basic principle was that it had to have a Chinese style, and it had to be trendy and youthful."[2]

Mu told the Global Times that hidden patterns on the costumes echo each character's background — tiger patterns for the complex Zhongli Quan, lotus embroidery for He Xiangu, medicinal-plant robes for the herbalist Tieguai Li — and that each character's fighting style is tailored to their personality: disciplined orthodox kung fu for Lü Dongbin, powerful domineering blows for He Xiangu, and unrestrained street-style fighting for Tieguai Li.[1]