The legend of Bruce Lee’s life story is one that has been re-interpreted on the big-screen over and over. Some have been full-blown biopics, like “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”, others have focused on an important event in his life, like “Birth of the Dragon”, and others still have simply had fun placing Bruce into a setting of historical fiction, like “Ip Man 4: The Finale”.
ICYMI, Ang Lee looks to be preparing for the first with his upcoming Bruce Lee biopic, having his own son Mason Lee, set to portray the legendary dragon!
The Newest Bruce Lee Biopic is a Big Undertaking
Per the official announcement in Deadline, the new Bruce Lee biopic is being produced through Sony’s 3000 Pictures, with Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, and Brian Bell producing alongside none other than Bruce’s daughter Shannon Lee, as well as Ang Lee himself.
Elizabeth Gabler and Marisa Paiva are also coordinating the Bruce biopic for 3000 Pictures, with Gabler stating the following to Deadline:
“Bruce Lee is a longtime passion project for Ang and a deeply emotional story depicting the triumphs and conflicts of one of the foremost, real-life action heroes of our time…All of us at Sony and 3000 Pictures are proud to help Ang and his filmmaking team create what we believe will be an extraordinary theatrical event.”
Ang Lee on Bruce Lee
In Deadline, Ang Lee commented on Bruce Lee’s historical impact and how he hopes to convey that in the film;
“Accepted as neither fully American nor fully Chinese, Bruce Lee was a bridge between East and West who introduced Chinese Kung 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.”
Mason Lee is Prepping to Portray Bruce Lee
Deadline also revealed that Bruce’s biopic is something that Ang Lee has had in the works for quite some time, while Mason Lee has spent the past three years training to take on the role of the legendary martial artist.
Mason Lee has been working in the film industry as far back as 1993, appearing as a baby in his father’s 1993 movie “The Wedding Banquet”, while Western audiences probably know Lee for his appearance in “The Hangover Part II”.
In any case, if ever a real-life figure required years of physical preparation to do him justice, it’s Bruce Lee, so it’s great to hear that Mason Lee has been putting in three years of prep and counting to that end.
Ang Lee Telling Bruce Lee’s Story Makes it Extra Compelling
Ang Lee has had a very distinguished career as a filmmaker, but his work on the 2000 wuxia epic “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” really put him on the map, especially for martial arts fans. While it’s quite unlikely that Ang Lee’s take on Bruce Lee’s life story is going to feature heavy use of wire-fu, it’s nonetheless exciting to contemplate what take Lee and his collaborators have on the life of the founder of Jeet Kune Do.
The life, teachings, and philosophy of Bruce Lee continue to inspire incalculable numbers of people around the world, including all of us at KFK. With an Oscar-winning filmmaker like Ang Lee at the helm and Bruce’s own daughter, Shannon among its producers, the new Bruce Lee biopic should be an exhilarating look back on the life of a man who changed the world and martial arts as we know them both!
