Possible Donnie Yen/Tony Jaa collabo!!!

[DiP]

Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa to Collaborate in 2010?

Recently, Raymond Wong has stepped down as the chairman of Mandarin Films to set up his own film studio which is teaming up with Mainland investors to produce a modern actioner at around HK$150m in mid 2010. The film will be directed by Ringo Lam. Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa are being invited to star in the film and they would have a series of fights.

Raymond Wong hopes to unite the two international screen giants despite the high fee of US$3m (HK$23.4m) commanded by Tony Jaa, "I'll talk about the new firm at a later date. It'd be great to have to the two appear in the same film, but I'll only talk about it when things are finalized."

Donnie Yen's currently filming Wilson Yip's Ip Man 2 with Sammo Hung, Fan Siu Wong and Huang Xiao Ming. He recently fainted on the set due to fever and over-exhaustion. He has been discharged from hospital and would resume filming in a day or two.

http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/702-Donnie-Yen-and-Tony-Jaa-to-Collaborate-in-2010.html

[Fightingfist]

Great hope it comes out :)

[Monk Sante]

HHmmmm. Don't know if this will ever happen, I'll believe it when I see it. Donnie Yen is still a good Martial Artist but he is no longer in his prime. Where Tony Jaa is dynamic with his acrobatic skills and martial arts. If this ever happens the egos will clash on the set. I guess we have to wait and see.:neutral:

[CDiablo]

I dont really like Thai MA movies, but I think these 2 could make something good happen.

[lillippa328]

wwwwoooooordd!!



any update on that Jaa/Jackie collab?

[DiP]

Donnie Yen is still a good Martial Artist but he is no longer in his prime.

Far from it. Aside a few long-lasting injuries, he hasn't lost it and is still in great shape and condition. Just when you thought he would eventually lack behind in everything after doing SPL and DTG, there he was doing Flash Point proving everyone that even middle aged martial artists can maintain the condition, form, power and speed they perfected back in the days. You wanna talk about people passed their primes, let's talk Jet Li, Jackie, Sammo and Yuen Biu.

[Mr. Pink]

I'm excited by the prospect, but something tells me this isn't going to pan out.

[Tosh]

I'd rather see Jaa work with Yen then Jackie anyday.

[Monk Sante]

You wanna talk about people passed their primes, let's talk Jet Li, Jackie, Sammo and Yuen Biu. .........and Donnie Yen. :bigsmile:

[DiP]

.........and Donnie Yen. :bigsmile:

If not doing the kind of movies as back in the days (which is for the better anyhow) then yes, but in terms of condition and performance, no. :wink2:

[globe]

donnie yen was never in his prime

[Monk Sante]

donnie yen was never in his prime

Please don't get me wrong here, I like Donnie's work. But I always felt his best stuff was under the watchful eye of Yuen Woo Ping, Ching Siu Tung, etc...
I personally don't like his style of fight choreography, although SPL was a kick ass film but lets not forget who was also on that set (Sammo). It's a damn shame he finally hooked up with a good director in Wilson Yip late in his career. But when Donnie was younger he did make a lot of bombs (Cheetah on Fire, Circus Kids, High Tension, Ballistic Kiss, Shanghai Affairs) he was in his prime then. To hear he is planning a retirement is really hard to accept when he could have done a lot better in his career.

[DiP]

It's a damn shame he finally hooked up with a good director in Wilson Yip late in his career. But when Donnie was younger he did make a lot of bombs (Cheetah on Fire, Circus Kids, High Tension, Ballistic Kiss, Shanghai Affairs) he was in his prime then. To hear he is panning a retirement is really hard to accept when he could have done a lot better in his career.

You can argue on that but at the same time you can't blame him for not doing better or more in the past. It's too complicated. Back then, he was mostly called for supporting roles and was therefore not considered a box-office draw. Nobody took notice and, on top of that, big companies didn't like to take risks on making action movies and putting action/stunt performers that were otherwise unknown to the majority. Also, action movies in Hong Kong went through alot of changes as a result of new waves of genre movies that took over the market resulting the worst period for action movies and action performers (apart from some of the major ones, of course) and less stakes on that genre. The reason why he's everywhere now is because of many factors: changes within the market (the film technology, the audiences' preferences, new talent etc... Everything has evolved and changed throughout the years) perhaps being the most crucial.

[Grimmjow]

Jet is done with MA flicks, Jackie show no interest in them anymore, Sammo is close to being done, and Donnie has his retirement planned out which leaves us with a void dying genre.

Wu Jing? He needs to make better movies but has the skills IMO

Tony Jaa is great but takes too long making movies, 3 years between films is no way to become a legend at this rate he will only be making another 3 movies before turning 40!

There are some good talents out there just not it seems working in Hong Kong which is a damn shame but heres hoping that the likes of Wu Jing, Fan Siu Wong and Nicholas Tse can keep the delivering the goods.

[HyperDrive]

Well, I suppose the worst thing that could happen if these two met up would be another Forbidden Kingdom. Speaking of Thai cinema, if Tony Jaa flounders, Dan Chupong or even MIke B. could step it up.

[lillippa328]

the actors from Champions and Wushu are really talented as well....deff. show potential...


Again, I think Jackie should do a "New Drunken Master" and take some1 like Tze Miu and use him as the Fei Hung role...and have JC play Sam the Seed...Jackie is still good for a whole lot, and somthing like that will help create a new martial art star


Same with Jet Li, he could do one more movie and play a master role...


Sammo is attempting now,which is good...I believe he really has helped Wu Jing some aswell

[Fightingfist]

Any new news on this?

[AlbertV]

Update courtesy of Twitch

As reported last September, we're not exactly dealing with a confirmed deal, particularly as none of the major Chinese portals have an entry for the film yet, but Raymond Wong's dream HK$ 150 million project 急先锋 (Vanguard) is creating more buzz, and going even more insane with potential casting shenanigans. You knew about the possibility of Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa cooperating for this, but now the producers are upping the ante, saying that they're going for Korean star Song Hye-Gyo (who was supposed to work in a few John Woo projects before they went belly up) and Prison Break's own Wentworth Miller as well.

The film would start shooting next April, and will have a budget of over 100 million yuan (about $14 million). Originally, the project was slated for a late 2009 shoot, but Yen's several projects got in the way, finally pushing principal photography to next spring.

So... there you have it. Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Song Hye-Gyo, and Wentworth Miller, together in the same film. They sure have a fervid imagination, but I've seen crazier things happen...

[blue_skies]

Update courtesy of Twitch

As reported last September, we're not exactly dealing with a confirmed deal, particularly as none of the major Chinese portals have an entry for the film yet, but Raymond Wong's dream HK$ 150 million project 急先锋 (Vanguard) is creating more buzz, and going even more insane with potential casting shenanigans. You knew about the possibility of Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa cooperating for this, but now the producers are upping the ante, saying that they're going for Korean star Song Hye-Gyo (who was supposed to work in a few John Woo projects before they went belly up) and Prison Break's own Wentworth Miller as well.

The film would start shooting next April, and will have a budget of over 100 million yuan (about $14 million). Originally, the project was slated for a late 2009 shoot, but Yen's several projects got in the way, finally pushing principal photography to next spring.

So... there you have it. Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Song Hye-Gyo, and Wentworth Miller, together in the same film. They sure have a fervid imagination, but I've seen crazier things happen...

I have to admit I am unfamiliar with that Korean star but personally I find it extremely strange of the idea of having Wentworth Miller in an Asian martial-arts projects starring Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. Although I really hope the Donnie Yen/Tony Jaa collaboration happens whether it's this project or another.

Out of curiosity is there any details on this potential project should it happen?

[Bus]

it'll not happen with all the big names but probably 2 of them. egos will stop it kind of like red cliff all the names talked about

[AlbertV]

Well, in an interview with Hunan TV that was transcribed on Wu-Jing.org, Donnie Yen was interviewed about 14 Blades and the final question that popped up involved the possible collaboration with Tony Jaa.

Heard that you're collaborating with Tony Jaa and there would have a decisive showdown?
Donnie Yen: Indeed, there's such a plan, director Stanley Tong and Raymond Wong are helping me invite Tony Jaa, I hope they'll succeed, but can't divulge the details.

[Yi-Long]

Well, in an interview with Hunan TV that was transcribed on Wu-Jing.org, Donnie Yen was interviewed about 14 Blades and the final question that popped up involved the possible collaboration with Tony Jaa.

Heard that you're collaborating with Tony Jaa and there would have a decisive showdown?
Donnie Yen: Indeed, there's such a plan, director Stanley Tong and Raymond Wong are helping me invite Tony Jaa, I hope they'll succeed, but can't divulge the details.

Gawd I hope Tony Jaa stays as far away from Stanley Tong as possible, unless it's to deliver him an 'Ong-Bak' straight on his nose...

Tony Jaa in a Stanley Tong movie :squigglemouth:. Yeah it could be worse, but not much...

[DiP]

Stanley Tong is out of the question. There were news reports that he, Donnie and Tony would make a movie together but the whole thing was misleading, and later Tong denied and said (other than him offering Donnie a part, which he's still thinking about) the movie he's planning had nothing to do with the one by Raymond Wong. I believe Tong is just helping, nothing more.

Wilson Yip and Peter Chan are the guys for Donnie's projects at this point. I hope either of them get the directing gig.

[mark187]

whatever happened to the original idea of Ringo Lam directing it?

[DiP]

No news yet. Highly doubt that's gonna happen though, I don't see the reason for Wong to approach Lam when he already has a director (Wilson Yip) who draws.

[VenomsFan]

Won't work.

Donnie Yen has stone faced expression.

Donnie Yen fights with wires.

Ugly combination. Yen would only do it as he sees Jaa making an Impact it has taken him 2 decades to establish. Get that fanbase.

Blah

[Drunken Monk]

Won't work.

Donnie Yen has stone faced expression.

Donnie Yen fights with wires.



While you might be right, I don’t see this as being altogether bad. I feel Donnie Yen can adapt. While he may choose to use wires in places, he is excellent at hand to hand combat. His choreography looks stunning. Tony Jaa may be miles ahead acrobatically but I can’t see why the two couldn’t find a choreography suiting both of them. Plus, Yen’s acting and typical stone-face may be getting slowly pushed to the side as he stars in more and more projects.

I’d still like to see what the two oft hem can do together.

[Tosh]

While you might be right, I don’t see this as being altogether bad. I feel Donnie Yen can adapt. While he may choose to use wires in places, he is excellent at hand to hand combat. His choreography looks stunning. Tony Jaa may be miles ahead acrobatically but I can’t see why the two couldn’t find a choreography suiting both of them. Plus, Yen’s acting and typical stone-face may be getting slowly pushed to the side as he stars in more and more projects.

I’d still like to see what the two oft hem can do together.

I agree, there's room for both styles, it be like back in the day when you had a great acrobatic martial artist and a more hard style grounded martial artist, take the movie Knockabout where Yuen Biao and Beardy studied two differnt styles that suited their abilities. A great fight that comes to mind is in Marco Polo when Kuo Chui and Johnny Wang Lung Wei have it out.

Jaa had some interesting projects floating around for a while after Ong Bak 2-3, who knows what will happen, I think it be cool if Yen heads to Thailand.

[blue_skies]

I agree, there's room for both styles, it be like back in the day when you had a great acrobatic martial artist and a more hard style grounded martial artist, take the movie Knockabout where Yuen Biao and Beardy studied two differnt styles that suited their abilities. A great fight that comes to mind is in Marco Polo when Kuo Chui and Johnny Wang Lung Wei have it out.

Jaa had some interesting projects floating around for a while after Ong Bak 2-3, who knows what will happen, I think it be cool if Yen heads to Thailand.

I agree that definitely could work and wouldn't it be fantastic to see a Donnie Yen film with more action and less drama for a change! A true action film.

Regardless of whether this pans out or not I will be eagerly anticipating the next Tony Jaa movie(s). Although it would be great if he could manage to release one movie every year.

[DiP]

wouldn't it be fantastic to see a Donnie Yen film with more action and less drama for a change! A true action film.

I prefer to call it "more action with well-balanced story and drama". That's what makes a movie completely great and enjoyable, as opposed to watching a badly-made movie where you have to wait (or fast-forward to) from action scene to action scene. The whole "action junkie" mentality has grown old already so action movies should also adapt to the way you also make stories good for any other genre.

[One Armed Boxer]

I am always weary about how these `dream` match-ups turn out, I remember many years ago people would talk about how exciting it would be if Jackie Chan & Donnie Yen ever squared off against each other.

Then they did in Shanghai Knights, and it was pretty much an anti-climax (regardless of weather the extended cut makes it better or not), then like a gift from the heavens they were given another chance to fight in the Twins Effect 2, and it was a Hong Kong production...what could go wrong? I guess everything, as it made the fight from Shanghai Knight look like kung-fu gold.

There are other examples...Jet Li versus Mark Dacascos springs to mind in Cradle to the Grave, it should have been a classic.

So...Donnie Yen versus Tony Jaa, if it never happens, it might not be to every ones loss. If it did, I have to say I would like to see it choreographed by Panna Rittikrai.

[blue_skies]

I prefer to call it "more action with well-balanced story and drama". That's what makes a movie completely great and enjoyable, as opposed to watching a badly-made movie where you have to wait (or fast-forward to) from action scene to action scene. The whole "action junkie" mentality has grown old already so action movies should also adapt to the way you also make stories good for any other genre.

I have to disagree I think there's room for both types of movie one that is action heavy but doesn't have to be badly made. And also a well balanced story, good drama with good action as well can make a good movie in a different way.

I love good drama, hell I watch tons of it but in my personal opinion I don't really call the drama in Donnie yen's films S P L and Flash Point that great. Sure they're both very well-made movies, very good production values and all-round better made films but I don't find the quality of drama riveting. Again I stress in my opinion but I would have enjoyed Flash Point for example more with an extra two or three action sequences.

Now I know I'm talking about TV drama but shows like Rescue Me, The Shield, The Unit, Dexter, Spooks and countless other TV shows feature truly great drama, gripping and entertaining without real quality action.

Ip Man is a better example of good story telling mixed with action and for me I enjoyed it more because of a good blend. However, sometimes you just feel in the mood for an all-out martial-arts action movie. You can forgive its basic story, minimal drama because it delivers plenty of thrilling action sequences, martial-arts, stunts etc that just leaves you breathless. Movies like this are few and far between but celluloid gold.

While people enjoy a quality made martial-arts epic with story and production values there will always be people who also want a stripped down, turbocharged thrill ride.



There are other examples...Jet Li versus Mark Dacascos springs to mind in Cradle to the Grave, it should have been a classic.



To be fair the Jet Li versus Mark Dacascos showdown never had a chance with Jet Li injured, which is why the film is so bad. You can see it's been reworked to give that rapper a bigger role because Jet couldn't perform. You can clearly see he only uses one-arm for most of the picture. Otherwise I'm sure the film and in particular that fight with Mark Dacascos would have been a whole lot better.

But I get your point

[BLfan]

To be fair the Jet Li versus Mark Dacascos showdown never had a chance with Jet Li injured, which is why the film is so bad. You can see it's been reworked to give that rapper a bigger role because Jet couldn't perform. You can clearly see he only uses one-arm for most of the picture. Otherwise I'm sure the film and in particular that fight with Mark Dacascos would have been a whole lot better.



Wow I always thought that was Jet Li's fighting style in the movie :bigsmile:

[One Armed Boxer]

To be fair the Jet Li versus Mark Dacascos showdown never had a chance with Jet Li injured, which is why the film is so bad. You can see it's been reworked to give that rapper a bigger role because Jet couldn't perform. You can clearly see he only uses one-arm for most of the picture. Otherwise I'm sure the film and in particular that fight with Mark Dacascos would have been a whole lot better.


I wasn't aware of this either, and haven't been able to find any info about it on the net...could you let me know more details, I'm interested to know the story!

To be honest I thought it just boiled down to the crappy director, Andrzej Bartkowiak, who seemed to have a thing about casting a popular martial arts star and teaming them up with DMX, Tom Arnold, & Anthony Anderson...he did it first with Steven Seagal in 'Exit Wounds'!

He seems to have broken the habit now and made....errrr....'Streetfigher: The Legend of Chun Li', someone should tell this guy to give up.

I actually just noticed Johnny Nguyen has a bit part in 'Cradle 2 The Grave', I'm happy to see he's gone on to better things!

[blue_skies]

I wasn't aware of this either, and haven't been able to find any info about it on the net...could you let me know more details, I'm interested to know the story!

To be honest I thought it just boiled down to the crappy director, Andrzej Bartkowiak, who seemed to have a thing about casting a popular martial arts star and teaming them up with DMX, Tom Arnold, & Anthony Anderson...he did it first with Steven Seagal in 'Exit Wounds'!

He seems to have broken the habit now and made....errrr....'Streetfigher: The Legend of Chun Li', someone should tell this guy to give up.

I actually just noticed Johnny Nguyen has a bit part in 'Cradle 2 The Grave', I'm happy to see he's gone on to better things!

I'm trying to remember where I heard about the Jet Li's injury. I'll check the DVD extras if I can find it in my unpacked DVDs.

However the reworking theory is mine since DMX takes has as much of a leading role if not more than Jet Li. Given jet's injury it seems highly likely they have to make changes and I doubt DMX would have had so much to do otherwise .

[dyenboy]

Donnie Yen is still a good Martial Artist but he is no longer in his prime.

really..what movie made you believe this?

[blue_skies]

I'm trying to remember where I heard about the Jet Li's injury. I'll check the DVD extras if I can find it in my unpacked DVDs.

However the reworking theory is mine since DMX takes has as much of a leading role if not more than Jet Li. Given jet's injury it seems highly likely they have to make changes and I doubt DMX would have had so much to do otherwise .

I've checked my cradle to the grave DVD and it doesn't appear to be in the extras about his injury. I'm sure I saw a video clip, possibly with Joel Silver although I'm not sure, and its mentioned that Jet Li has his arm strapped against his body after suffering some injury to his arm or shoulder. To be honest I'm buggered if I can remember where I saw it.

[VenomsFan]

The same reason Yen decided not to stay hollywood is the same reason Jaa should stay far east as possible. Yen and Jaa are stars to this genre in their own right.

BTW, I thought the fight with yen and Jet Li in HERO despite how brief it was.

[One Armed Boxer]

I'm sure I saw a video clip, possibly with Joel Silver although I'm not sure, and its mentioned that Jet Li has his arm strapped against his body after suffering some injury to his arm or shoulder.

Wow, if that's true then I'm amazed at how little respect Hollywood gives to such talented martial arts stars. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai broke his arm during the filming of 'Grand Master'...did they decide to adjust the movies fight scenes so he could just fight with one arm!?

Of course not,..they gave him time to recover so they could continue shooting the scenes as they were meant to be shot! Even bringing in a double, which Jet Li is no stranger to, would have been more respectful than having him fight with one arm strapped to his body!