Hollywood’s favorite martial arts legend Bruce Lee is getting the big screen treatment at Sony. Ang Lee, renowned for his work on movies like Life of Pi and Brokeback Mountain, is directing the biopic, and his son, Mason Lee, is attached to star in the film as the Chinese American star.
According to Deadline, the film is currently in development at Sony’s 3000 Pictures with Dan Futterman adapting the script from Jean Castelli, Alex Law and Mabel Cheung and Wells Tower’s earlier screenplays. Futterman’s previous writing credits include hits like Capote and Foxcatcher.
“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,” Ang Lee said in a statement. “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.”
Bruce Lee made a name for himself in Hollywood during the 1960’s and early 70’s before his untimely death in 1973. The star popularized martial arts across the globe with hits like Fists of Fury, Enter the Dragon and The Way of the Dragon. Now, the story behind the legend is coming to the silver screen under the tutilage of an Oscar-winning director.
Ang Lee, whose film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the greatest martial arts film ever made, is a life-long fan of Bruce Lee. According to Elizabeth Gabler, who is overseeing the project for Sony, the upcoming biopic is a “passion project” for Ang.
“’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,” Gabler said. “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.”
Mason Lee has appeared in a few film roles including The Hangover Part II and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Most recently, he starred in the Taiwanese romantic comedy “Stand By Me,” Hong Kong drama “Limbo” and “Who Killed Cock Robin.”
Carson Burton is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @carsonsburton.
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