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It's My Time (film)

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It's My Time
Theatrical release poster
Chinese魔方小姐
Literal meaningLady Rubik's Cube
Hanyu PinyinMófāng xiǎojiě
Directed byBai Xue
Written by
  • Bai Xue
  • Sun Yan
  • Xu Yizhou
Produced by
Starring
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Shanghai Maoyan Pictures
  • Media Asia Film Distribution
Release date
  • June 30, 2026 (2026-06-30)
Running time
107 minutes[1]
Countries
  • China
  • Hong Kong
Languages
  • Mandarin
  • Cantonese
  • English
Box officeUS$1.27 million[2]

It's My Time[a] (Chinese: 魔方小姐) is a 2026 sports drama film directed and co-written by Bai Xue, with Wen Muye serving as the executive producer. A Chinese-Hong Kong co-production, it stars Michelle Yeoh and Liu Haoran in the leading roles, alongside Sa Rina, Bai Ke, Han Tongsheng, Qi Xi and Liu Yang. Based on a true story, the film follows a woman in her seventies who, unwilling to settle for a monotonous life in a nursing home, embarks on a new chapter after unexpectedly discovering her talent for solving Rubik's Cubes.[3] The film marks Michelle Yeoh's first Chinese film project since winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023.

It's My Time was released in mainland China by Shanghai Maoyan Pictures on June 30, 2026.

Plot

Zhao Yanhong, a strong-willed and rebellious 70-year-old senior, frequently stirs up trouble and causes amusing incidents at her nursing home. By chance, she meets Wu Youwei, a down-on-his-luck former Rubik's Cube world champion who operates a night market stall, and the two form an unlikely bond. Establishing a mentor-student relationship with the younger Wu, Zhao uses the Rubik's Cube to defy aging and fate. The two compete in Rubik's Cube competitions, leading Zhao to rediscover a sense of purpose later in life.[4]

Cast

Michelle Yeoh at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival.
Liu Haoran at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Michelle Yeoh (left) and Liu Haoran (right) respectively portray Zhao Yanhong and Wu Youwei.
  • Michelle Yeoh as Zhao Yanhong, a 70-year-old woman who was admitted to a nursing home
  • Liu Haoran as Wu Youwei, a former Rubik's Cube World Champion who, by a twist of fate, became Zhao's coach
  • Sa Rina as Shuzhen, a longtime friend of Zhao, who lives with her at the nursing home
  • Bai Ke as Dong Dawei, Zhao's son
  • Han Tongsheng as Laowan, a resident at the nursing home
  • Qi Xi as Manting, Dong's wife
  • Liu Yang as Boss Hu, head of an MCN company
  • Tian Yu as Director Zheng, the director of Zhao's nursing home
  • Huang Yao as Zhao Yanhong as a young woman
  • Chen Halin as Zhao Yanhong as a teenager
  • Jiang Qiming as K Shen, an expert of Rubik's Cube
  • Jin Jing as Mother of Wang Tianze
  • Wu Hankun as Xiao Cui
  • Liang Zhi as a host of a reality show

Production

Development

It's My Time is based on the real-life story of Zhao Wenying (赵文英), a retired teacher from Jinyun, Lishui, Zhejiang. Zhao began learning to solve Rubik's Cubes in 2014 after being inspired by her granddaughter. In December 2019, she successfully achieved a World Record Certification (WRCAC) by solving a 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube blindfolded in 3 minutes and 33 seconds, becoming the fastest individual over the age of 60 to accomplish the feat.[5] Her journey serves as the biographical foundation for the film's protagonist, Zhao Yanhong.[6]

The project marks the second feature film directed by Bai Xue, following her directorial debut The Crossing (2018). Bai co-wrote the screenplay alongside Sun Yan and Xu Yizhou. According to Bai, she had conducted several in-depth interviews with Zhao Wenying,[6] and the lead role of the 70-year-old "rebellious" grandmother was specifically written and tailored for Michelle Yeoh.[7] The film also marks a major return for Yeoh, who served as chief producer and lead actress in her first Chinese-language cinema production since winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).[8][9][10] Noted filmmaker Wen Muye, known for Dying to Survive (2019), served as the film's executive producer.[11]

Casting

The film's core cast was officially revealed on August 7, 2025, alongside the release of its first promotional poster[12]. The leading roles were assigned to Michelle Yeoh and Liu Haoran, representing their first on-screen collaboration.[8] Liu Haoran was cast as Wu Youwei, a former Rubik's Cube world champion who reluctantly becomes Zhao's coach. The supporting cast includes veteran actress Sa Rina as Shuzhen, Zhao's closest companion in the nursing home. A key emotional scene in the film, where the two characters apply nail polish together, was developed as a spontaneous on-set improvisation by the actresses in cooperation with the directing team.[11]

Filming

The film was officially filed and registered under the working title Lady R (魔方奶奶; 'Grandma Rubik's Cube') by Shanghai-based General Dream Studio in April 2023[13] and commenced principal photography in May 2025, with on-site filming taking place in Foshan and Guangzhou.[14][15][16] On August 7, 2025, the film released its first teaser poster and announced that filming had been completed.[12] In April 2026, the film was re-registered as a co-production under its current title by General Dream Studio and Hong Kong's Media Asia Film.[17]

Release

On June 13, 2026, the film's cast and crew made an appearance at the opening ceremony of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival.[3][18][19] The first round of preview screenings for It's My Time were held from June 19 to 21 in 38 select cities of China,[20] while the second round was expanded to a nationwide scale from June 22 to 28.[21]

It's My Time was originally scheduled to be released in mainland China by Shanghai Maoyan Pictures on July 3, 2026,[22] but the release date was later moved up to June 30.[23] The film will be released by Media Asia Film in Hong Kong within the year.[24] The film is also scheduled for release in international markets, with Media Asia handling sales.[10]

Notes

  1. Also known as This Is My Time.

References

  1. "电影公映许可证 电审故字〔2026〕第122号" (in Chinese). China Film Administration. June 11, 2026 – via Maoyan.
  2. "Daily Box Office >China". Entgroup. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  3. 亞瑟 (June 16, 2026). "奧斯卡影后楊紫瓊新片亮相電影節 七旬老太逆襲闖國際扭計骰大賽". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  4. Xu, Fan (June 29, 2026). "Michelle Yeoh returns to Chinese-language cinema with inspiring comedy". China Daily. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  5. ""魔方奶奶"赵文英". Wenzhai Bao (in Chinese). July 27, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  6. 刘阳禾 (June 26, 2026). "真人真事改编盈满治愈之力 《魔方小姐》北京首映礼举办" (in Chinese). China News Service. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  7. 蔡泓宇; 陆芳 (June 20, 2026). "《魔方小姐》：杨紫琼演70岁奶奶玩转魔方，刘昊然分享"反焦虑哲学"" (in Chinese). Tide News. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  8. Soh, Joanne (November 14, 2025). "Life after Oz: Why Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh is still searching for her dream role post-Wicked". The Straits Times. Retrieved June 29, 2026. After a string of Hollywood titles like […] she is returning to Asian cinema in budding Chinese film-maker Bai Xue's Miss Rubik's Cube, where she will share the screen with popular Chinese actor Liu Haoran.
  9. Ford, Lily (February 14, 2026). "Michelle Yeoh Is Just Hoping She's "Made a Difference for Actors Who Look Like Me"". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 27, 2026. Her answer might surprise you — she's eyeing a return to Chinese cinema […] "I'm still working on a movie [in China]. Last year, I did one called Miss Rubik," about a woman in a nursing home who unexpectedly pries open the future through a Rubik's Cube.
  10. Wong, Silvia (May 12, 2026). "Michelle Yeoh to make Chinese-language return in This Is My Time; Media Asia launches Cannes sales". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  11. 王彦; 万坤 (June 21, 2026). "人生有无数种可能，它绽放在闪烁的那一刻——《魔方小姐》上海路演举行". Wenhui Bao (in Chinese). Retrieved June 26, 2026 – via Shanghai Observer.
  12. "杨紫琼刘昊然开启崭新人生！《魔方小姐》曝海报". 1905.com (in Chinese). August 7, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  13. "影剧备字〔2023〕第840号" (in Chinese). China Film Administration. April 11, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  14. "杨紫琼回归华语影坛 新片搭刘昊然演母子". Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). March 12, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  15. 刘烨 (May 21, 2025). "与杨紫琼重聚：在电影世界里，也在宽阔的生活日常中". Condé Nast Traveler (in Chinese). Vol. 2025, no. 3. ISSN 2095-4158. Retrieved June 26, 2026 – via WeChat Channels.
  16. 郭芷君 (June 24, 2026). "杨紫琼：我玩得开心吗？当然！". Vogue China (in Chinese). Vol. 2026, no. 13. ISSN 1671-010X. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  17. "影合立字〔2026〕第9号" (in Chinese). China Film Administration. April 10, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  18. 李思洁; 薛松 (June 13, 2026). "上影节红毯现场｜《魔方小姐》杨紫琼：今晚不再一人走红毯". The Paper (in Chinese). Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  19. Lim, Marcus; Li, Jenny S. (June 13, 2026). "Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung Lead Shanghai Film Festival's Star-Studded Opening". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  20. 陈晨 (June 19, 2026). "杨紫琼演绎七旬励志"魔方奶奶"：任何时候出发都不晚". The Paper (in Chinese). Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  21. 宋欣瑶 (June 22, 2026). "电影《魔方小姐》首轮点映及路演口碑获赞 第二轮全国点映燃爽开启" (in Chinese). Phoenix Television. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  22. 苑文馨 (June 12, 2026). "电影《魔方小姐》定档7月3日，杨紫琼刘昊然师徒过招重组热血人生" (in Chinese). Phoenix Television. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  23. 宋欣瑶 (June 29, 2026). "电影电影《魔方小姐》官宣提档至6月30日超低票价点燃暑期结伴观影热潮" (in Chinese). Phoenix Television. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  24. "《魔方小姐》7.3開畫 楊紫瓊亮相上海國際電影節". Ming Pao (in Chinese). June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.