RZA eyes Chris Brown for ‘Last Dragon’ remake

WHAT the HELL!!! You kidding me right.... once again when keeping original movies goes wrong or in this case REALLY BAD.. GOOD LUCK ..

My name is Will Martel and i am a martial artist and a big fan of not only Bruce Lee but of the Last Dragon film of 1985. I am an actor and somebody that aspires to do action film and i think Chris Brown taking on the role of "Bruce Leroy" is a joke, i mean there are actors like myself out here that continues to bust their asses day in and day out and in my case i've been years in the biz and can't seem to get a break because of the closed minds of the powers that be giving the acting jobs to singer, rapers and other personalities that can't hold a candle acting in front of the camera.

Sam Jackson himself knows what an actor a REAL actor has to go through to get recognized here in the United States and kudos to Sam that he is the star he wants to be today but what about those guys( and i'm one of them) that has all these tools but can't seem to get the right people to notice. I believe that luck compose of "Preparation v.s Opportunity" and i think that Rza and the others in power need to go theaters to see stage plays, watch indie movie and search because we're out here waiting to get the chance to shine and prove that we have the "It" factor to become names in the business.

RZA ,what's up? i like your style ,and your talant, keep strivin for the top.There's another, Id say hero/rolemodel i know that shouldn't beforgoten.,
you say who? Mr. T No not Mr. t from the A team , MR.T . TROUBLE MAN. MR. Robert Hooks. He never looses his Kool. check it ,tell me what you Think about a remake of trouble man and who get's the lead role? Not R Kelly.

Check out this guys video, he would be perfect for the part of Leroy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOmejGWvyUg

Not Chris Brown!!!!!!!! Hed be auful as bruce leeroy, Bruce leeroy is portrayd as a shy sensitive man! Not some thug who beats women!!!!
Give some unknown actor a shot at bruce leeroy, not someone thats already in the industry!!!!

My Bad Manny Brown!

I called this one, I'm in the wrong profession role cb was born to play soft spoken, intense, athletic, flexable(for kunf fu training), and has acting experience, Rhianna would have been perfect sexy, exotic, more expierence than chris(he probably caught up by now). They should still do it in my eyes don't think he will assult her on the set. If not her it would be great if Mariah could act ,the teach me some moves angle could be played to the maximum, they was talking Christina Milian but she is too cute sexy, you need exotic look like she will ravish you Vanity type sexy.They should use an unknown acting singing chick thats extra dumb hot. I know she's out there

This guy should be the new Leroy Green. He can act and he is a great martial artist. Check him out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZnVwbOdIVo

I think CHRIS BROWN and VANESSA SIMMONS would make excellent Leroy and Laura Charles!!!!!! Get It Done!!! Shaquille O' Neal can play sho-nuff!!

I got the guys twitter page right here check him out twitter . com/larry_hudson
He looks exactly like bruce leroy

Oh hell noooo they better not cast Chris and Rhianna as Leroy and Laura Charles. I love chris and ri dont get me wrong. But Vanity is super sexy and stunningly beautiful. You need someone like Paula Patton. As for Leroy you need someone who is gorgeous and has charisma like Brian J. White, Wesley Johnathon, or Mark Taylor. Google these people if you dont know them. I love this movie and i hope they dont screw it up like with some remakes. Samuel Jackson would make a good shonuff, but i though Busta Rhymes back in the day would to but he to big now.

They should at least do an open casting just to see what talent is out there. I mean there has to be a very talented guy between 18-25 that can do what taimak did... and more!!! Will RZA really direct this?

I really dont have anything against Chris Brown, but I really dont think he's a good choice for the film. A lot of people have already admitted to not wanting to go see it cause of him. And why do singers and rappers all of a sudden want to become actors? I'm quite tired of it, SMH. In early interviews they'll be like, all I wanted to do is music. And now later on theyre like, I always wanted to do movies. Lame! And I agree with some people about having someone UNKNOWN that knows martial arts, but is just stepping into the movie scene.

There's this one guy I use to go to school with and work with at Wal-Mart last year that looks exactly like Bruce Leroy, if I remember correct his name is larry. Word around town is he's trying to get the role, but yeah it would be cool if he got the role. A fresh face, just starting out in the business, I think RZA needs to rethink the casting. And who'll play Vanity, I know alot of playas out there are more into whos playing vanity than all the other cast members.

And why do singers and rappers all of a sudden want to become actors?

All of a sudden?

Frank Sinatra. Ice-T. Leslie Cheung. Tony Leung. Bing Crosby. Diana Ross. Al Jolson. Anita Mui. Issac Hayes. Madonna. Prince. Dwight Yokam. Johnny Cash. Roger Daltrey. John Lennon. Toby Keith. David Bowie. Mick Jagger.

First to christianmonk: I can't believe I forgot about Sugarfoot,especially considering I had the chance to spar with him once. Donnie Yen fast,in a real fight he would have owned me.To whydoesitmatter?:Hollywood is run by very poweful spoiled insecure mental children.They like to project there own fears and prejudices onto the audience. They say American isn't ready for interacial relationships unless it's white male female of color.Why because it makes THEM uncomfortable. Same deal with a black,hispanic,asian, or female action lead.It makes THEM uncomfortable.Do you think it's an accident that even with a black President blacks are only President in disaster movies.Also Hollywood is run on smoke,mirrors,and bullshit.Things that are real and true scare them. The only way for a real black or any minority hero who isn't non threatening to the hollywood power structure to prosper is to make a film on there own,and have it be financially succesful outside of Hollywood and then whaite to be co opted by them.

Word, like Johnny Tri Nguyen or Bruce, Jackie & Jet, if u haven't seen Warlords ur missing out...

This is a touchy subject... i understand where the original poster is coming from. Im not black but i do respect that martial arts knows no color. Styles are studied by all races all over the world. I do think hollywood is afraid to develop more african american leads as action heroes. Who is out there that has yet to be discovered..... who knows? More than likely there arent many scripts with a black guy as a lead anyway. If he is the lead, hes probably a thug or an ex gangbanger or something. Maybe the last dragon remake might convince the big execs to take more chances, if it is successful. Wesley established himself as a good actor 1st before he got any action scenes in a movie. I wonder is there any black actor who is a good actor who knows martial arts and is just waiting on the opportunity to showcase their skills? As a white guy who is not intimidated by race onscreen hollywood is VERY racist against many races not just african americans...

MJW wiLL pwn as Black Dynamite, Sho' NuFF, let HIM be the heavie/bad guy

while i agree theres considerably more white action stars than black there certainly are more than michael jai white and billy blanks. You sir are being a racist who only sees the negative side of things.

Okay I'm gonna ad my 2 cents here.During the 70's so called blacksploytation era,black men were suddenly the lead protagonist in action films.Notice that when the majority of heroes are white they aren't being exployted.Be that as it may many of these black leading men were then incorperated as supporting actors for white leads in standard Holllywood films.Now here we are in the 21st century and except for a few2 notable exceptions major studios still hold the belief that black people don't generate enough money at the box office and white America won't except a non white lead.Unless of course they are the only people of color and everyone else in the cast is white.Being and eternal optimist I'm looking foward to the day when this is no longer the case.:)

of course hollywood is racist but that doesnt change the fact that there are tons of great black action heroes that people seem to forget about we could start a huge chain of listing them and some people regardless of color are going to make rascist comments about it how they think they are being defouled insteead the hollywood movie industry has changed alot since the 70s and about blacks not fighting for money thats an easy one to solve. american mma is primarily fought wrestling on the ground which as we all know is repressed homosexuality which is apparently dominated by caucasion males when u look overseas to the more skill based fighting k1 and pride and such u see much more skill and ethnic diversity, also what race dominates the sport of boxing? which is just the equivalent of mma, youre still beating the shit out of people.

If something is wrong you don't just ignore it. Look we all know hollywood has been racist as hell since the beginnings of movies. Was Bruce Lee a racist for acknowledging racism in movies and ignoring the positives.

I was really hesitant to respond to christian monk because I'm not the type of guy that gets into debates about race but he hit a couple of nerves that I just have to respond to.

First I would like to say that I agree with you that there is a stunning lack of black martial arts action heros on the screen. I had a black karate teacher growing up that would make Steven Segal and VanDamn look like Betty White on a bad day.

My issue is with your statement that there are very few black mma fighters because you seem to think that african americans have higher standards and morals.

That statement to me is just out of control and plane racist. There are people in every ethnic group that have high and low morals. Also some of the greatest mma fighters ever are black... Rashad Evens, Rampage Jackson, and the best fighter the world has ever known Anderson Silva (who put a stomping to Forest Griffins ass last night).

You stated that you have been to many martial arts tournaments.. If they paid you what the ufc is paying fighters would you not have gone? My guess is that you would because it's a passion just like it's a passion for mma fighters who by the way don't get paid jack until they win a belt if they ever do.

Like I said I think you have a valid point... I just think you took it too far.

Where is Michael Jai White when you need him? Especially when Wesley Snipes is in Jail?

As a black martial artist who grew up with Bruce Lee at the drive-in theater, I have waited PATIENTLY for over 3 1/2 decades for a legitimate black martial artist to be proud of on the big screen. First off, white people, yes I said it (http://marinecorpfitness.tripod.com) are afraid of BLACK HEROS. End of Story. Take a look at black male action heros of hollywood over the past 30 years since the GREAT Black movies of the seventies, yes, I said great because I always left the theater feeling like I was ready to whup some white ass THE MAN. Watch Three the Hard Way and run to the other side of the drive in theater and watch THE CHINESE CONNECTION or RETURN OF THE DRAGON. See what I mean..... This ultimately got my father to put me in Tae Kwon Do classes at the age of 14 when Bruce Lee died. I have never stopped since and would gladly play a physical martial arts role in any of these movies - and I am 4 years younger than Jackie Chan.

Look at our black super heros:
SPAWN - with all of his martial arts power, no one asked him for a Spawn 2?
Invincible - with Bruce Willis - and Samuel Jackson = the bad super hero
The Art of War, Wesley got it better in Part 2. The fighting was superior than anything he had ever done during the 90's

Can you think of any other AA Action movie male that could hold it together on the screen in fighting? NOT.

Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing is a great example of the fighting ability of MJW. Why doesn't he get more roles?

I would have to download some early Billy Blanks movies from the 1990s to see some great martial arts moves by a black man. Remember, all of those B movies with Billy led to his Tae Bo stuff.

Now, back to THE LAST DRAGON. I would rather watch a Sonny Chiba movie than Taimak because I do not like campy martial arts movies.

And where is Carl Scott, from the Billy Chong movies (KUNG FU EXECUTIONER and A HARD WAY TO DIE) when you need him? If Billy Blanks went to Hong Kong like Cynthia Rothrock did during the 90s to make their debut in the HK cinema, and Michael Jai White did with Michelle Yao in SILVER HAWK.

WHERE ARE THE BLACK ACTION HEROS? Forget Arnold, Bruce, Sylvester and Indiana Jones. I want my action Hong Kong style.

Wu Jing delivers in LENGENDARY ASSASIN. Why can't we have a black equivalent? Because the movie funders do not want to black men kicking an opponent's ass on the screen.

Jackie Chan's best years were from 1986 (Police Story started it all) to 2001. I mean this PHYSICALLY. There is stuff he did in the 3 PS series that he will not do again. The same can be said with MJW. Movie Martial Artists have a certain window of creativity and athleticism that must be displayed before they age out of an authentic performance.

Now, THE LAST DRAGON was only seen by me to satisfy my curiosity. I would rather watch ANY Donny Yen, even Collin Chou (The MATRIX movies and FLASHPOINT) and now Wu Jing than 99% of all martial arts related movies coming out of Hollywood. oh include Tony Jaa in the mix.

Hollywood cannot make a decent martial arts movie. This is the truth. When I watch an action movie with martial arts, I want it real. If I can do 95% of what I see on screen, I will walk out of the theater.

Kill Bill only held my attention because I was waiting for Sonny Chiba to get busy, even at his age. Uma's teacher held my attention in that movie.

Why can't we have ONE DECENT BLACK martial arts movie star? Because Hollywood is racist. End of story. I said it. I don't care how ugly a black man is (Billy Blanks comes to mind), if he looks like he would help me fight in a back alley, that is who I want to see on the screen.

I found the Rush Hour series could have been alot better if they would have had Michael Jai White instead of Chris Tucker. No disrespect but I realize what Jackie was trying to do in gaining a new audience and generation of fans. But at the expense of having a good fighter in it like MJW?

Wesley came close in a few movies but the last fight scene in FLASHPOINT with Donnie Yen and Collin Chou is what one should remember leaving a theater from a martial arts movie. Not the jokes or smart alet talk.

I vividly recall UNDISPUTED 2: LAST MAN STANDING the final fight scene. Even Bloodsport 3 and 4 Daniel Bernhardt was great and fights well.

But why do all of the heavily muscled black men get beaten in these movies? I am sick of it. I don't get it. It sickens me.

Which brings me to another point:

Black men have proven to be the most powerful fighters on this earth. Are they willing to fight MMA? Not. Do you see a significant number of black women in MMA? Not. So we are natural fighters when it calls for it, NOT FOR MONEY.

White People fight for money because they have low morals and standards. But that it another blog. We don't fight unless we really need to fight. Kimbo Slice cannot hold his head against more trained MMA fighters. However, he can fight when he needed to. Same is in the movies.

When are we going to get a real authentic black martial arts action hero? Jim Kelly was there during the 70s. Why didnt' anyone take up the torch? I refuse to allow Bruce Leroy to represent the best of black martial arts on the screen. It is a joke and travesty. Taimak was OK.

Having been in over 1000 martial arts tournaments over the past 35 years, I have seen 1000 of black martial artists who could fight better and look better on the screen. Just give me enought time to train them as an actor and the rest would be cinema history.

Conclusion:

I highly recommend that we use the internet to find the next black martial arts star. On the BONUS EXTRAs on the ONG BAK DVD, there is featured the three winning videos from a martial arts video contest. The Grand Prize winner features some great fighting by black men in a prison gang scene. These boys (BLACK AND WHITE) are off the hook. The brother really throw down in these fight scenes which look like it was direct by Wilson Yip.

Just look at this 5 minute fight scene and you will have some great black men fighting in a scene that would make both Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee proud.

Two Words: Chiwetol Eljiofor, he fukking rocked as Terry in the MMA~centred REDBELT...

I disagree. With the new DVD release of Blood and Bone featuring Michael
Jai White, I could never take another LAST DRAGON seriously. Realize that
the "action" choreography expectation level are much higher than 25 years
ago meaning that I, for one, am not interesetd in seeing a remake of a dumb
witted brother walking the streets with a Chinese brim and pajamas in
contemporary society.

Put some meat on a new character, watch Blood and Bone and then holler for a
sequel because Michael Jai White is our new, authentic Martial Arts hero
that Black brothers have always needed. Put Bone up against Leroy and THE
LAST DRAGON looks pretty pathetic.

I want to see more of Bone and his character in a sequal of Blood and Bone
movies. It is Michael's time now. Forget THE LAST DRAGON like the name
says, it was the LAST dragon.

Wow, what a meat head. Dude, you are a racist calling other people racist. Black people the most powerful people on this earth? Their morals are too high to fight for money? Talk about racist propaganda BS.

Firstly, MMA fighting is real fighting, period, yet I don't see very many black guys on there. Kimbo slice was kind of a joke, and failed miserably didn't he?

As for their morals being too high, gimmie a break. How else are you going to be able to train all day every day to fight unless you do it for a living? That's costs money. Ah yes, by your simply retard logic promoters should make all the money and give the fighters nothing. The fighters already make peanuts, yet you think they should fight for free? You are saying that if all money is removed then more black men will come in and fight? People would refuse to fight, as they would have to find day jobs and work their asses off and be unable to train very much.

Your views are poorly developed, your logic warped, basically you are talking nonsense. Also, I rather doubt you have ever been in a martial arts "tournament" let alone a thousand, your ignorance is evidenced in everything you say. Peace out.

Please watch the DVD release, BLOOD AND BONE with Michael Jai White and give
me your opinion.

the christianmonk

The last I heard Carl R.Scott is the owner of an electronics store in Los Angeles.He is also still active as an instructor in Kenpo under the banner of the Black Karate Federation(BKF).Also this is my list of brothers with skills who should be on the come up and aren't:
Michael Jai White
Ron Hall
Bobby Samuels
Michael Woods
Winston Ellis
Lateef Crowder
Chuck Jeffries
and the late great Steve James rip my brother

Speaking of Michael Jai White, have you seen BLOOD AND BONE on DVD? Michael
ROCKS the house in this movie where he kicks that YOTUBE MMA wanna be (who
got his ass kicked in a televised fight).

Oh my Goodness, STEVE JAMES from all of the American Ninja movies of the
1980-90's? Wow. What is happening to Black men after 50 years of age?
(Michael Jackson, etc., Bernie Mac, etc.).
Thanks so much for the update. see me at
http://marinecorpfitness.tripod.com. I promise you that I have no intention
of going out like that. Yes, agree with the Capoiera practicing brother
from THE PROTECTOR who I heard dislocated his ankle during the filming of
that scene in the monastery with the sprinklers on. It took him 3 months
to heal. I also have IN THE LINE OF FIRE 4 with Donnie Yen fighting on the
Rooftop with that very muscular brother. Thanks for reminding me of that
brother.

Where are all of the fighting brother? I was upset that they BARELY let
Michael Jai White go off in Undisputed 2, where he only showcased his
kickboxing skills at the END of the last fight scene. I wish he would have
had freedom to fight free style earlier in the movie.

Michael is coming out with BLOOD AND BONE next month which should showcase
his fighting skills tremendously.

I must try to find Carl Scott in person someday. Also Pete "Sugarfoot"
Cunningham was also very good. But not enough of him. See a movie with
Billy Blanks and some former wrestler named Rowdy Roddy Piper -very good
fight scenes, very authentic and great camera work. I remember that movie
very well because it was the 2nd time I saw Billy Blanks outside of a ring.
King of the Kickboxers was his first where he played a villian.

Look, you sound like a brother - go see Melvin Van Peebles excellent
documentary on Blacks in cinema titled CLASSIFIED X. After seeing this
brilliant documentary on the history of blacks in american cinema, you will
realize that you do not want to see blacks in subordinate roles, especially
when it comes to action movies.

Poor Wesley Snipes - At least he was trying to put us out there as an
authentic action hero. However, I still can't get over the fact that he had
Donnie Yen in his movie but failed to showcase Donnie's skills (Blade 2).
That would be like me having Bruce Lee in my movie but limiting him to
fighting in dark rooms, which is what happened. So I still haven't forgiven
him for this flaw in his movie. Also,you can clearly see where Donnie was
the stunt choreographer (beginning of the movie) and the western crew staged
the fights (at the end of the movie). The end fight scenes really looked
corny and American compared to the early fight scenes which were signature
Donnie Yen.

My point: we need more black action fight scenes.

I know how you feel, it is a bit frustrating. I'm so sick of characters like "the Twins" from Transformers 2 and "Ripcord" from GI Joe. The stereotypical dumb black male that provides the audience with comic relief. He may be buff too but can't fight for shit on screen. Lateef Crowder was phenomenal in The Protector and the fight between Michael Woods and Donnie Yen (In the Line of Duty IV)was pretty good.

You have got to be kidding me RZA. I hope this is just a rumor.

As martial arts movies go the last dragon isn't exactly the 36th chamber but it was extremely entertaining. I must of watched it 50 times when I was a kid.

I want this new movie to have every chance of success and casting Sam L. as the Shogun of Harlem just plain makes me happy, but if you bring in someone like Brown with all the controversy surrounding him there are people out there who wouldn't go see it who otherwise would.

That's great! thumbs up for CB,( you cant keep a good man down )
People has got to be forgiven. Everyone has to pay bills and eat, just bec a person made a mistake,no one has to be trashing that person. Let who is without sin cast the first stone.

JAY-Z shuts down Chris Brown at the BET awards...

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/06/ja...

TAKEOVER

Taimak, was awesome in the original, I wonder what kind of role he will play, I say Leroy's Master...

Michael Jackson - R.I.P.

If Chris Brown is in this movie, I for one will not be seeing it. This has nothing to do with the whole Rihanna stuff, but overall, it will just be a joke of a movie with him playing this role. One of the things that Taimak brought, which wasn't great acting, but an unknowing/uncorrupted attitude in his acting. It wasn't great, but it was honest. Chris Brown can not begin to bring that. Go find someone that is a young guy in Martial Arts that could at least bring a bit of validity to this role. Don't screw this up, RZA. geez...

haha... i hope donnie yen audition. i can see it now, yen-leroy. if they gonna use a white boy... cast brad pitt. xD ever seen fight club? he can do a good bruce lee impression lol.

Awesome. Who do we submit to to audition?
Oops and to correct my above post
*Leroy Green

Im actually auditioning for the role of Bruce Leroy Greene. I've been traing for two months now for the role & I've also posted some pics on Taimaks website. Request my myspace page at www.myspace.com/projectginex

I hope they don't cast Chris. Nothing to do with Rhianna but it just doesn't seem like he'd fit the role right. Any time I picture him in the role it seems more like he'd break into a musical act. Plus the choreography will probably be VERY weak and use crappy quick cuts to mask it.
I'm probably not suited for the role myself but I still don't think it'd feel right seeing chris brown as leroy brown
Here is a fight me and my friends did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABYotY_d3xc

Really though I wouldn't care who they cast, as long as the person gos nuts on the role to keep it from feeling like a rape of the original.
If the choreography is anything like this. Only without the blood and grit, I'd be in love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RLnM9pgP7E&...

Then again thats just my opinion and im not sure if the choreography would fare well with the original feel of the film. Plus with Samuel as Shonuff, the climactic fight wouldnt seem to make as much since since we all know how Sam moves. Im gonna love him in the role though

"Rihanna catches Fists with her Teeth"... Rihanna will play the role of Bruce Leroy

I don't want the glow ... I want the glory.

Lol, at the "catches fist with teeth niggah please"

Using Chris is a mistake. It's not cool to beat up your girlfriend and then play Bruce Leroy. I was excited until I heard this! People hide behind many excuses trying to justify this twerp's actions but Brown is and always will be a punk for hitting Rhianna. I don't care about the backstory of the fight, her face said everything. If RZA casts that fool in this movie, I won't see it and I bet it would flop. There's no point in making this film if Brown is in it. Right now, the best thing Chris can do is to go sit down somewhere and get the help he claims he needs.

RZA needs to find a new face for this role. Definitely someone with a martial arts background. Just as long as he leaves Brown out of this remake.

To Brother Nigel: Catches fist in her teeth,catches fist in her teeth? Nigger ppleeeeaaase!!!

Isreal...

I can't cosign this. Especially the "Niggerish" stuff.

Nigel ! How are you ? I'm the guy from B'ham, Al, who was writing a sequel to T L D and actually I wrote 2 scripts. I sent emails to productions and everything some responded /some didn't, but it is a hard business.I learn with some Directors and even writers they do have the power to choose who gets the starring role in the movie. You really have to get a least a little behind the scenes to have some say so. If you won't the title you have to fight and show your talent. Like when the RZA said he wanted Rhianna to do Vanity part and I was like she never did any acting far as I know, but with her pop status she can persuade the production. Honestly I think RZA will do an excellent job to this movie, I don't totally want CB to play the lead cause there are others who deserves a well worthy chance like Taimak had. Like the guy you brought up he is talented. I wanted Booker T from wrestling to play Sho' nuff, in my script to make it good because of his attributes and "niggerish" skill. I thought what more do you need in a character like Sho'nuff. I wouldn't mine either one them Booker or Sam, but if they choose CB they can't include Rhianna, both can't be in the same movie, you see what happen to Jen and Ben, that movie flop. Anyway the RZA will do a good job I have faith in him. Sitting behind Tarrantino and others he will bring the dimension this movie needs. Including all the Wu-Tang albums I have even the last one was Great. P.S. After watching making the band, I don't think Puff would've got the job done right.

Nigel my brother, I feel what you are saying. Hell I wanted a Celtics repeat. Now I'm in trouble because i am a Bronx boy lol.

Darrin,

You ever heard of Ghandi? He has a saying which is one of my favorite quotes, " Be the change that you want to see in the world."

There may be a number of fans who THINK they can do better, but they have to get out there and see how tough this whole business is.

Real talk...

Let me share something with all of you.

In 2006, I reached out to Louis Venosta (Original writer) about writing the sequel to the Last Dragon. We met in Manhattan. He said that I was the first person in a while, to reach out to him about the sequel.

I moved on less then a few weeks after. I decided to write my own fiction story, that had nothing to do with The Last Dragon. I will still very naive about the treacherous waters of this whole business. I thought that if I got my story to the RZA, he could help me bring it to life.

After grinding for a bit, I got in contact with one of RZA's family members here in New York City. She put me in contact with her brother and for about two months, I contacted here once a week, playing phone tag with her, and having her call her brother while I was on the phone.

I finally got the RZA's mailing address in California. I sent him my script and never heard from him again. In the letter I sent to the RZA, I told him that I created my story because I was influenced by the Last Dragon. I also told him that I spoke to Louis Venosta about a sequel.

Well... some time after the remake was announced, RZA says something to the effect of having the new Bruce Leroy work in a Chinese restaurant, and not in a pizza parlor like the original. The funny thing is, the Black guy who is in my story works in a Chinese restaurant. So... I feel like RZA may have liberated some of my material.

I have strong feelings about some of this. I have all of the Wu Tang Clan albums... I NEVER heard any of those guys say anything about The Last Dragon. Now all of the sudden, RZA is Mr. Bruce Leroy? I'm not buying this. What I am believing is that the RZA got my letter, screenplay and that was the impetus for him spearheading the remake.

I feel crazy slighted man... what can I do at this point? I've been encouraged by family members and friends to continue with my work and let people see the difference for themselves.

I don't mean to digress, but yeah, fans can have all of the ideas they want. Do they ever write a screenplay? Do they ever make the effort to contact a director? Some of those Star Trek fans who attept writing fiction may be creative, but few take the effort to publish their work.

I watched "David Chappelle" on "In the Actor's Studio" and he mentioned some of the issues with Hollywood, but one of the poignant statements he made was to the effect that there were a limited number of production studios in Hollywood and few opportunites. Not everyone is getting in.

The people who are in those circles get to do what they want. Will Smith paid his dues and is one of the most important actors in Hollywood. Instead of opening the door for some other young actor (White or Black) he gives this project to his son.

What can we do about this? Absolutely nothing. He has the money, so he does what he wants... but guess what? We're all going to go see this movie anyways.

As far as White leads in Hollywood, you have to understand that film making in America has its origins and development with Euro/White Americans. It is a culture that they developed. It's not a question of whether or not, they had the finances, it is a culture. Don't think that they are just going to change or open the doors of that culture to just anyone.

These things take time. However, if someone has talent, their art will trancend race any time. Bruce Lee is a prime example.

Donnie Yen is cool, but he isn't Bruce Lee and don't think that if there was someone out there with the " je ne sais quoi" that Bruce Had, they wouldn't be on the big screen.

This thread has spiraled way out of control and I am horribly envious because none of my articles have stirred up this type of commentary. :-)

Long and short... not happy with what's being done? Write your own story and try to join the culture. Or create an indie and tell Hollywood to fuck off. It isn't easy.

* More imporantly, JAY-Z just dropped a song called D.L.R. *

It is a follow up to D.O.A. which dropped last week. Based on what I heard, D.L.R. stands for "Death of the Last Dragon Remake"

In closing, what we want doesn't mean anything. I want the Orlando Magic to win the NBA finals. However, I am not on the court, and I am not in the game. What I want does not matter.

We're not players in Hollywood. We're not playing ball. We're just watching.