Action star Donnie Yen is back in the spotlight with Śakra, his sixth and latest directorial effort in nearly twenty years since the Barbara Wong co-helmer, Protégé de la Rose Noire.
Currently in production, Yen’s return to Wuxia is based on Louis Cha’s 1960s novel, “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils”, which underwent several film and television adaptations dating back to the 70s. The new film marks the book’s fourth adaptation for the screen, joining him with mega-producer Wong Jing, who previous collaborated with the star on titles like Big Brother, Enter The Fat Dragon, Chasing The Dragon, and New Kung Fu Cult Master.
Set in the Song Dynasty, Śakra sees Yen in the role of Qiao Feng “a tragic hero accused of killing his adoptive parents”. Feng is actually one of three protagonists in the original novel, so in terms of the general plot, this is all we have to work with until more is revealed in the weeks and months ahead.
Śakra had been ramping up its profile in the last few months in Tokyo, and at this month’s American Film Market, with a sales sheet firmly making the rounds featuring Yen in costume. The ink, from Mandarin Motion Pictures, comes by way of Screen International’s digital Screen Magazine via Screendaily which you can view below.
Śakra also stars Chen Yuqi and Cya Liu. Some of Yen’s most recent credits also include the late Benny Chan’s Raging Fire and Lo Chi Leung’s Come Back Home, and Chad Stahelski’s upcoming fourth John Wick film starring Keanu Reeves.
Check out the imagery below!
