New Still, Training Pics And Character Postcards For RISE OF THE LEGEND
It’s no secret how challenging it has been for actor Eddie Peng and his fellow co-stars in preparation for the new film, Rise Of The Legend. Here, Peng fills the shoes of previous folks like Jet Li and the late Kwan Tak-Hing, both genuine martial artists compared to Peng who spent several months in training to play legendary martial arts master and healer Wong Fei-Hung. The film is the latest work of director Roy Chow in his new iteration of the kung fu hero in his younger years. The story is set in the year of 1868 at the bottom of the Qing Dynasty as young Wong, a gifted pugilist in Chu Kong, Guangzhou who finds himself at opposite ends with drug and human trafficking criminal gang, the Black Tigers, led by Thunder (Sammo Hung), and the corrupt officials who sanction them.
Of course, some of the cast endured their fair share of injuries as well between training and production, including Peng who recently described the day he lost his voice on set while filming a fight scene in the rain. Other moments include one point where he injured his hand while punching a fixed prop during a fight sequence, in addition to actor Max Zhang who cut the corner of his right eye during filming, requiring five stitches. Brutal stuff indeed, and personally speaking, all my respect goes out to this cast and director Roy Chow for their valiant efforts, which can now be seen in some newly released behind-the-scenes training pics, as well as a crisp new still of Peng in action below, with a cool batch of character postcards as well!
Rise Of The Legend Is written by Fearless scribe Christine To, and is also produced by Hung, along with Ivy Ho and Bill Kong, with fight choreography by Corey Yuen Kwai. Peng, Hung and Zhang are joined by Wang Luodan, Jing Boran and Wong Cho Lam, with special appearances by Tony Leung Ka-fai and Angelababy. The film bows in China this November. Universal Pictures International also has worldwide distribution rights outside of Asia.
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