Hong Kong’s Donnie Yen to star in movie adaptation of acclaimed Kung Fu series from 70s

Hong Kong action filmmaker Donnie Yen Ji-dan will join forces with the director from John Wick and star in the 87North and Universal Pictures’ movie adaptation of Kung Fu, a classic 1970s TV series in the US, according to Deadline and Hollywood Reporter. 

According to the reports, Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, and Guy Danella will produce through 87North, with Leitch eyeing to direct. 

Stephen Chin wrote the screenplay with Stephen L’Hereaux as producer. Ed Spielman – creator of the original Kung Fu series aired by the American Broadcasting Company from 1972 to 1975 – will be the executive producer. 

“Donnie Yen is both an immensely talented actor and an action film legend, and it is a privilege to have a true martial arts master leading this global film,” said Leitch. 

“With Donnie in place as our leading man, it will be a thrill to collaborate with him, our creative partners, and Universal in re-imagining this beloved story for the big screen.” 

Yen is no fresher to Hollywood – despite starring in the fourth installment of the John Wick franchise as a blind and retired assassin, he also took up major roles in movies including Mulan, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and xXx: Return of Xander Cage, not to mention the popular and acclaimed Ip Man series. 

Yen said it was very meaningful that he was cast for the role this time since martial arts legend Bruce Lee was originally cast but David Carradine ultimately became the leading man. 

The previous casting also sparked racial controversy as Lee’s widow Linda Lee Cadwell said in her memoir that it was her husband who came up with the concept and was intending to star as Kwai Chang Caine – the protagonist. 

Yet, British film magazine Empire reported that the martial arts legend was told that viewers in the US were not ready for an Asian lead at the time. The producers later disputed and said they had consulted Lee but decided to go with Carradine in the end. 

In the original ABC series, Caine was a master martial artist who fled China after his master was murdered. He wandered the Old West helping the downtrodden and weathered rampant racism while eluding assassins who were trying to kill him. 

Apart from the 70s series, there is also a TV series with the same title that came out in 2021, starring Olivia Liang as the protagonist Nicky Shen – a Chinese-American dropout who returned to San Francisco from China and protected her people from crimes using martial arts. 

(Staff reporter, Deadline, and Hollywood Reporter)