Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi director Ang Lee is set to direct a biopic about Chinese martial arts legend Bruce Lee. The project is in development at Sony, with Lee’s own son Mason Lee attached to star. Dan Futterman (Foxcatcher, Capote) is writing the script.
Bruce Lee was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often credited with paving the way for modern mixed martial arts. He’s widely considered to be the most influential martial artist of all time, and is a 20th century pop culture icon who bridged the gap between East and West.
He had a brief but lasting presence in Hollywood as an actor, director and martial arts expert. His films, including Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon, and TV series The Green Hornet, helped popularized martial arts across the globe in the late 1960s and early 70s. Lee died in 1973 at the age of 32 from what is now believed by some to be heat stroke.
Ang Lee said in a statement: “Accepted as neither fully American nor Fully Chinese, Bruce Lee was a bridge between East and West who introduced Chinese Gung Fu to the world, a scientist of combat and an iconic performing artist who revolutionized both the martial arts and action cinema.
I feel compelled to tell the story of this brilliant, unique human being who yearned for belonging, possessed tremendous power in a 135-pound-frame, and who, through tireless hard work, made impossible dreams into reality.”
Ang’s films have won multiple awards, and he’s one of the most celebrated contemporary filmmakers working today. He hasn’t done a biopic like this before, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out, especially with his own son in the starring role. This will be the director’s first movie since 2019 action film Gemini Man.
Mason, who is also 32 like Lee at the time of his death, has appeared in a few of his father’s films but was most recently seen starring in the Taiwanese romantic comedy Stand By Me and Hong Kong drama Limbo.
There aren’t any further details on the biopic, and it doesn’t even have a title yet. But it will be fascinating to see what Ang can deliver when tasked with honouring one of the most well-known figures of the 20th century.
#Peace.Love.BruceLee
