LayarHijau – Martial arts superstar Donnie Yen (甄子丹), famous for portraying the legendary Wing Chun master Ip Man (葉問), has announced a major new development for the future of the Ip Man franchise. Yen, a lifelong admirer and follower of kung fu icon Bruce Lee (李小龍), revealed he is in discussions with Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, to feature the martial arts legend in an upcoming Ip Man project with a much more central and significant role.
Yen made the disclosure while attending the opening ceremony for the “Bruce Lee 85th Birthday Memorial Exhibition: The Way of the Formless.” It is important to note that the character of Bruce Lee has previously appeared in the Ip Man film series (played by Danny Chan Kwok-kwan), from a brief cameo in Ip Man 3 to a supporting role in Ip Man 4: The Finale when Ip Man visited the United States.
However, Donnie Yen’s latest plan suggests the intention is to expand and elevate Bruce Lee’s character into a core part of the narrative, likely exploring the complex dynamics of the teacher-student relationship or Lee’s journey in the U.S. in far greater detail.
Yen spoke passionately about Lee’s profound influence on his life. “I have been deeply influenced by Bruce Lee since I was a child,” Yen stated, recalling how he often imitated Lee using a broomstick as nunchaku. “He made kung fu films real and changed the cinematic language.” Yen confirmed he is currently negotiating with Shannon Lee regarding the inclusion of her father’s character in this new project, a plan he hopes to push forward as early as next year. Shannon Lee welcomed the proposal enthusiastically. “I truly appreciate Donnie Yen’s performance and sincerity. I am also looking forward to a new collaboration in the future,” she said.
While the Ip Man films generally depict a harmonious relationship, historical reports often suggest a period of tension between the real Ip Man and Bruce Lee. This tension reportedly stemmed from Ip Man refusing Lee’s offer of a luxury house in exchange for filming the full Wing Chun wooden dummy techniques. Furthermore, Lee’s decision to found his own style, Jeet Kune Do, was viewed by some fellow students as “Wing Chun betrayal.”
However, Ip Man’s eldest son, Ip Chun, previously clarified that his father’s refusal was not out of anger but a desire not to commercialize martial arts. Ip Chun also indicated that Ip Man did not hold a grudge over Lee founding his own school and would often ask Lee to demonstrate the boxing he learned in America. This potential new film offers a chance to explore this nuanced and rich historical connection.
