Inspired by Ancient Legends

Written by Tony Angiola

When a Chinese farmer unearths the first Terracotta Warrior, a hidden power buried with the First Emperor awakens, unleashing an ancient army created to defend the Qin dynasty from a rebellion that history tried to erase.

8,000 warriors were buried to guard an empire. Now they rise to save it.

Supernatural Action / Fantasy Adventure

Historical Epic with Mythic and Sci-Fi undertones

In 1974, a farmer’s shovel strikes something buried, an ancient warrior’s clay head. As the excavation deepens, a curse stirs. The Terracotta Army, sealed beneath Xi’an for over two millennia, was never meant to be disturbed.
 

The story flashes back to the final days of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, obsessed with immortality and guided by his brother, Prince Ying Lian, keeper of a crystal sphere etched with the Flower of Life, a relic said to control life, death, and the stars.
 

When an uprising threatens to tear apart the newly unified Qin dynasty, the Emperor’s brother uses the sphere to awaken 8,000 Terracotta Warriors to defend the realm. The soldiers, forged of spirit and stone, rise to fight a shadow army from the underworld intent on erasing the Emperor’s legacy. Centuries later, the same relic reactivates, drawing a farmer, archaeologists, and the Chinese military into a supernatural war hidden beneath the soil of history.

· Emperor Qin Shi Huang - A dying ruler desperate to become a god.

· Prince Ying Lian - The Emperor’s brother, torn between loyalty and cosmic truth.

· Li Wei (The Farmer) - A humble man whose discovery rewrites human history.

· Dr. Mei Zhang - A modern historian who uncovers the emperor’s secret.

· The Shadow General - Commander of the underworld forces seeking to reclaim the sphere.

A fusion of ancient grandeur and modern spectacle, blending the visual majesty of Hero and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with the mystical energy of Doctor Strange and 300.
 

Terracotta warriors crumble and breathe. Rivers of mercury glow beneath the Emperor’s tomb. Battlefields merge the physical and spiritual realms. The crystal sphere refracts cosmic energy into light and destruction.

· Immortality versus Legacy

· The cost of awakening what should remain buried

· China’s mythic connection to cosmic forces

· Brotherhood, betrayal, and redemption through sacrifice

· The Mummy (1999) - adventure, resurrection, mysticism

· Hero (2002) - visual beauty and philosophical depth

· Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - emotion and spiritual destiny

· Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - scale and moral complexity

Appeals to both Western and Asian audiences, blending history, legend, and fantasy. Taps into global fascination with the Terracotta Army and the Qin dynasty’s legacy. Strong franchise potential with opportunities for cinematic universe expansion, gaming, and streaming adaptations.

Feature screenplay nearlycompleted.
Inspired by Ancient Chinese Myth and Real Archaeological Discovery.
Seeking Production Partners, Investors, or Representation.

Tony Angiola - Author / Screenwriter

Email: authortonyangiola@gmail.com

Website: www.tonyangiola.com

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