By Mark Pollard | Published November 18, 2009

Production began on Monday for CHEN ZHEN (aka THE LEGEND OF CHEN ZHEN), a kung fu actioner directed by Andrew Lau with Donnie Yen starring and choreographing the action. What may come as a surprise is that Lau intends to combine Donnie Yen-style kung fu with visual effects to create a superhero movie.

Lau states that Chen Zhen will be a superhero who is not only a master of martial arts but will transform himself to take on the challenge of saving the entire city. The film’s co-writer and producer, Gordon Chan, has stated that this will not be a remake of FIST OF FURY but rather a reinvention.

Chen Zhen is the semi-fictional student of Huo Yuan-jia, first made famous by Bruce Lee who portrayed him in writer-director’s Lo Wei’s FIST OF FURY. In 1994, Jet Li took on the role in FIST OF LEGEND. An ATV series titled FIST OF FURY followed with Yen starring as Chen Zhen.

Here is the plot according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Set in 1920s Shanghai, the film features Donnie Yen as a local resistance fighter who had been taken for dead after a bloody skirmish. After an absence of seven years he returns in disguise to uncover a plot linking the triads and the Japanese.

Anthony Wong, Shu Qi and Zhou Yang also star. The latter two stars will portray women who vie for the affections of Chen Zhen.

“I have played Chen Zhen on [the] FIST OF FURY TV series 15 years ago so I’m particularly [enthusiastic] about this role,” said Yen. In terms of action, I have confidence of presenting a whole new Chen Zhen. I hope this will engender another wave of wushu trend, and [I] hope for this to become a classic.”

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Sina via Wu-Jing.org

Related Topics:
Andrew Lau  •  Donnie Yen  •  Gordon Chan  •  Shu Qi  •  The Legend of Chen Zhen (2010)  •  upcoming