Ang Lee’s son to star as Bruce Lee in upcoming Ang Lee-directed biopic

A biopic about late martial arts icon Bruce Lee is in the works at Sony’s 3000 Pictures with director Ang Lee attached to helm the project.

Ang Lee, who is most known for his directorial work on “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Life of PI” and “Brokeback Mountain,” will base the depiction on a script by “Capote” screenwriter Dan Futterman.

“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,” Lee told Deadline. “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.”

Playing the legendary martial artist is the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s own son Mason Lee, whose filmography includes the Taiwanese film “Stand by Me” and “The Hangover Part II.”

Ang Lee will also share producer credits with Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Brian Bell and Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee.

Bruce Lee, who died in 1973 at age 32, remains a beloved figure among a generation of international fans who grew up watching him in films like “Fist of Fury,” “Enter the Dragon,” “The Way of the Dragon” and “The Big Boss.”

The global star had been portrayed in a number of iterations over the years, the latest of which was in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

Tarantino’s take on a fictionalized Bruce Lee, played by Mike Moh, drew backlash from many, including Shannon herself.

Shannon, who was only four years old when her father passed, felt the depiction was disrespectful to her father’s legacy. She had previously said that it has always been her goal to both preserve and share her father’s message.

“The memory that I have of him that is very clear is his presence, what it was like to have his attention, love and focus,” Shannon told NextShark in 2016. “You know from watching the movies that his energy is palpable. It jumps off the screen even still today when you watch his movies. You can feel it. Imagine having that amplified right in front of you and then also just filled with love.”

Featured Image via BAFTA, Oliver URSU

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