Donnie Yen to Play Bruce Lee?
Filed under: Drama, Foreign Language, Casting, RumorMonger, Newsstand, Cinematical Indie
There have been rumors circulating for the last week or so that Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen is close to landing the starring role in a Bruce Lee biopic being put together by Lee's family. According to the most recent reports in the Chinese press, the film's financiers have a series of requirements for the actor who will ultimately play Lee, among them that he be ethnically Chinese, be skilled in martial arts, "a good actor" and, randomly, have Hollywood experience. While Yen is reportedly very interested in the part -- and certainly fits the bill on points one, two and four -- that whole "good actor" thing is open to discussion. Additionally, some Lee fans are up in arms about the requirement that the film's star have Hollywood experience and, while I don't know enough about Lee to properly weigh in, I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I mean, what the hell is the point? Having appeared in a Hollywood film somehow gives an actor credence? Based on the career of David Spade alone, I beg to differ.
So, Lee fans, assuming this movie actually happens, who do you think should star?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-31-2006 @ 4:09PM
Clinton said...
Donnie Yen is a superb martial artist and choreographer. He's also got the look and has enough acting chops to pull it off. I'm liking this rumor.
Reply
7-31-2006 @ 4:52PM
_spike said...
Donnie Yen is cool and all, but how come no mention of the other Bruce Lee bio-film? Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, was that movie "un-official" or something? why make another one?
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7-31-2006 @ 5:03PM
The Jeremy said...
YES!
It really tires me when talking about martial artists and action films and the only person that is mentioned is Jet Li. Donnie Yen deserves more high profile work over here.
If the G.I. Joe live-action film goes through, they better offer Donnie Yen the part of Storm Shadow.
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7-31-2006 @ 5:18PM
Cath said...
I suspect what the producers were looking for was not simply name recognition in Hollywood. Lee had his feet in both worlds and that gave him his distinctive flair. I think Yen would be good, but there are plenty of other top notch Asian actors/martial artists.
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7-31-2006 @ 6:29PM
stephen said...
How about Jackie Chan's bodyguard who is a great martial artist and has several Hollywood film roles?
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7-31-2006 @ 7:45PM
PangGo said...
KOOL!!! I THINK DONNIE YEN SHOULD PLAY THE LEADING ROLE, HE HAS THE GREAT ACTING SKILLS, AND HIS MARTAIL ARTS IS SIMILAR WHEN IS BEING PERFORMED. HE'S GREAT FOR THE PART...HOWEVER, WAT ABOUT THAT ONE LIU KANG GUY FROM MORTAL KOMBAT? HE TOO LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE HIM, HAS THE HAIR, AND EVERYTING, I THINK HE TOO IS THE PERFECT ONE...
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7-31-2006 @ 8:05PM
PangGo said...
Donnie Yen is great for the leading role, seriously...but wat about the Liu Kang guy, from Mortal Kombat. he looks pretty much like Bruce and he has martial arts skill too...
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7-31-2006 @ 9:31PM
Sam said...
I think that Donnie Yen will do a good job, he's been in the game long enough to know what's up. Other than that Tony Jaa popped into my mind, but he seems to knee people in the face too much.
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7-31-2006 @ 9:42PM
Dawn said...
Who better to play this role than Donnie Yen, himself?? With his respect for Lee, we KNOW he'll be true to the role. And having already played Chen-Jun in the series version of Fist of Fury, his tribute to Lee already pre-qualifies him!
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8-01-2006 @ 3:22AM
Will said...
I think Donnie Yen might be good, but the problem I see here is that I dont think Donnie resembles Bruce Lee in the bit. I am also a big Donnie Yen fan, but I dunno it may be a bit tough for me to get past seeing Donnie Yen play Bruce lee because i will still be seeing Donnie Yen. to me it would be like seeing Jackie Chan play Bruce lee.
My recommendation is for Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer). I think he has a closer resemblence to Lee, although he may not be as skilled in Martial arts as Donnie, lets face it we want someone physically capable but they dont necessarily have to be a martial arts match for Bruce lee. it is still a movie after all.
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8-01-2006 @ 5:17AM
DAB said...
How old is Donnie Yen? He seems way too old to be playing Bruce Lee.
They should get an unknown actor. And he doesn't have to look exactly like Bruce Lee, the important thing is "can he act?" You can teach a guy martial arts and he can learn how to fake it for the screen, but you can't fake good acting...
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8-06-2006 @ 8:45PM
stephen said...
I want to select Tom Wu to play Burce Lee.If you saw
Steven Segal's " Belly of the Beast", Tom Wu was the
one who played the General.Tom has a somewhat close
and so, believable resemblance, can act,has the physical build,and the martial art skill to portray
Bruce Lee in a convincing way.
Reply
8-07-2006 @ 3:06PM
Gadget said...
The choice for the role should go to Kwok-kwan Chan of Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu Hustle". He definitely has Bruce's looks, and, can act as well.
Come on folks let's get together and send the message out to Lee's family to put this guy in the role as Bruce!!!
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