The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) is a fantasy adventure film directed by Rob Minkoff. Starring Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, and Liu Yifei. A modern teenager is transported to ancient China, where he joins legendary warriors on a quest to free the Monkey King. The journey is filled with martial arts, magic, and an epic clash between good and evil.. The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) is a fantasy adventure film directed by Rob Minkoff. Starring Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, and Liu Yifei. A modern teenager is transported to ancient China, where he joins legendary warriors on a quest to free the Monkey King. The journey is filled with martial arts, magic, and an epic clash between good and evil.