At top of his game, Donnie Yen plans retirement

After 26 years of screen fighting, Donnie Yen, 46, is finally being recognized as the world’s number one Chinese action star, inheriting the mantle previously carried by Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Bolstered by award-winning, blockbuster hits IP MAN and PAINTED SKIN in 2008 and with upcoming films 14 BLADES, BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS and IP MAN 2 gaining momentum, the Boston native has become the hottest fighting star in Asia with offers pouring in from producers. Despite this enviable position, Yen admits that his time as an action star is running out in a new interview with the New York Times.

With age, it’s taking Yen longer to recuperate from shooting action scenes and although not mentioned in the NYT article, the action star has been troubled of late by injuries.

“I’ve actually given myself a retiring deadline for acting of 50,” said Yen. “I want to push myself to the limit, but I don’t want to be hanging around.”

Before anyone thinks Yen is quitting the movie biz in four years, he offers assurance that he plans to keep working in some capacity.

“I know I can still have some influence in the action directing department and raise the bar,” he said. “I still have a lot of ideas.”

To speculate, Yen will transition towards action choreography and possibly more dramatic roles, although it’s less likely. I have a feeling he’s not going to pretend he can turn himself into another Anthony Wong or Simon Yam. In the interview, Yen admits to only taking his acting serious since last year with AN EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS.

While Jet Li has decided to focus more on his charity work outside of the industry, Jackie Chan has struggled for years to re-brand himself as a dramatic actor, most recently by starring in SHINJUKU INCIDENT. yen appears more pragmatic about his situation.

“I don’t think you’re going to see me in a film without action because I don’t think investors are going to put their money in such a film,” said Yen. “That’s not what the audience wants to see me in.”

The potential for Yen to excel in action directing appears more promising. In coming years, China is gradually going to lose top action directing talents such as Sammo Hung, Ching Siu-tung, Yuen Woo-ping and Corey Yuen as they retire. While there are younger understudies or protégés in the industry, none of them have Yen’s name recognition or experience in front of the camera. Yen has amassed experience in action directing over the years, some of his most recent work being in SPL and FLASH POINT. He has a unique style and an insatiable drive to evolve and challenge himself, not unlike his original mentor Yuen Woo-ping.

As genre fans, we all have to face the same sorry reality that our favorite action stars do, their bodies gradually break down and they can’t perform on the same level. Jackie Chan’s last great physical performance was in 1994 in DRUNKEN MASTER 2, 15 years ago which blows my mind when I think about it. But as we have learned with Sammo Hung, Philip Kwok and other former martial arts stars who have remained active in the industry, that doesn’t mean they don’t have something to contribute.

Seeing Donnie Yen muse about the end is still bittersweet. I was just beginning to get used to the idea of seeing him as the reigning Chinese action star. On top of that, he has yet to break into the international market the way that his predecessors have. My hope is that within the next four years, Yen will have one crossover hit that gives him the worldwide recognition that he’s already getting in China.

Source: New York Times

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