Jimmy O. Yang and Bowen Yang Face Off as Part of Animated Epic Quest in ‘The Monkey King’ Trailer

Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jo Koy, Stephanie Hsu and BD Wong voice actors in new Netflix action-adventure comedy The Monkey Kingwhich sees its titular character battling demons, dragons, and his own ego.

Out Monday, the two-minute-plus first look at the family-friendly animated film teases Monkey King, Yang’s “most spectacular, amazing, incredible” hero, in a story set in a time of ancient gods and demons. An outsider in his own community, the Monkey King, along with his trusty sidekick ‘stick (voiced by Nan Li)’, faces the challenge of defeating 100 demons and attracting the attention of ‘the immortal ones’.

With little support from those he grew up with, the Monkey King ventures into a human village, where he takes on the challenge of protecting the community from a fiery demon known as Red Girl (Sophie Wu). After nearly destroying the entire community in the process, he catches the eye of Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport), who asks to join the Monkey King in finding her as his “humble assistant.”

“Hard pass,” Monkey King tells her of Yang in the trailer before she begs to join him. “Please,” Hoang-Rappaport’s Lin replies. “I just want to do great things someday, like you.”

It’s a partnership that soon brings them to the wrath of the Dragon King (Bowen Yang), who – Monkey King’s ego aside – may be their greatest challenge in his quest to prove himself worthy. “Maybe defeating everyone isn’t the answer,” Lin says. “Maybe it helps other people.”

The film’s remaining cast includes BD Wong, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Andrew Kishino, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie, Andrew Pang, and Kuno Inghram. The film is directed by The Boxtrolls and Anthony Stacchi of Open Season and features animation and visuals by ReelFX. Peilin Chou (Over the moon, Abominable) co-produces with Stephen Chow (Kung Fu hustle, Shaolin kick), who serves as executive producer.

The Monkey King will be released on August 18 on Netflix.