Well Go USA Brings Time-Travel Action Epic Back to the Past to Theaters January 30

Louis Koo returns to the Qin Dynasty as Back to the Past hits North American theaters January 30.

Well Go USA Entertainment has locked in a North American theatrical release for the record-breaking Chinese action epic Back to the Past, bringing the time-hopping spectacle to theaters on January 30. The distributor has acquired rights from Louis Koo’s One Cool Film Production, positioning the film as one of the more ambitious international releases to hit early 2026.

Directed by Ng Yuen-fai and Jack Lai, Back to the Past continues the story of the hugely popular 2001 Hong Kong television series A Step into the Past, reuniting much of the original cast nearly two decades later. Louis Koo returns as Hong Siu-lung alongside Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok, and Joyce Tang, all reprising their original roles. The ensemble is expanded with new additions, including Michael Miu, Bai Baihe, and Louis Cheung.

Set nineteen years after the events of the original series, the film finds Hong Siu-lung pulled back into the Qin Dynasty after years of peace. A new time-traveling enemy, driven by vengeance over a wrongful imprisonment, threatens to fracture the empire once unified under Emperor Ying Ching. As timelines collide, old alliances and unresolved conflicts resurface, forcing Hong Siu-lung and the Emperor to confront dangers that span both past and present.

Produced by Louis Koo and Wai-Bat Tang, the film blends historical warfare with large-scale science fiction concepts, anchored by action choreography from legendary martial arts filmmaker Sammo Hung. The result is a high-energy spectacle designed to appeal to longtime fans of the series while remaining accessible to newcomers.

Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA Entertainment, described the film as an epic that balances nostalgia with scale, emphasizing its mix of choreographed action, historical drama, and genre-forward storytelling.

With its January 30 release date set, Back to the Past is shaping up to be a major draw for fans of international action cinema and time-travel epics, marking another high-profile theatrical push from Well Go USA as the new year kicks off.