[UPDATED] THE BRYCE LEE STORY: Casting Announced As Cameras Roll On Asian-Canadian Drama Feature
*8/27 (5:30am EST): A previously re-edited version of this article has been updated for accurate casting info by production following Monday’s press announcement.
*8/26 (5:05pm EST): A previous version of this article has been updated for accurate casting info following Monday’s announcement.
Cameras are now rolling in the city of Victoria of British Columbia, Canada for The Bryce Lee Story. Starring in the title role is stage and screen actor Rickie Wang (Heroes of the Golden Masks, Daisy & the Gumboot Kids) for director Arnold Lim (All-in Madonna).
Set in a small rural community on Vancouver Island, The Bryce Lee Story follows a 13-year-old Chinese boy named Bryce Lee who lies about being related to screen legend Bruce Lee, in an effort to be accepted by his classmates at school. While the script is fictional, the film’s palpable messaging will explore universal themes of identity, the role of family reputation in community, racialized roles for Asian-Canadians in Canada, and goes beyond that to tell the story of a lonely Canadian boy and his family.
Joining Wang on screen are Cordelia Chao, Benny Wang (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Luke Hubler-McManus (The Thicket), Alix West Lefler (Speak No Evil), Bijou Brattston (Schmigadoon), Aias Dalman (Good American Family), Tim Zhang (A Million Little Things), and April Amber Telek (Final Destination: Bloodlines). Additionally, the cast lists actor Johnson Phan (Shōgun, War) who is also stunt coordinating.
The Bryce Lee Story is written by Lim and co-scribes Kyle D’Odorico, Arnold Lim, Connor Gaston (The Devout) and Mo Bradley Bio (Two 4 One). Lim is also producing alongside Lynne Lee (The Chinatown Diner), co-producers are Robin Chan (Hollow Child) and Matthew J. Blecha (The X-Files). Raymond Massey (Can I Get A Witness?, Meditation Park) is serving as exec producer, and Stirling Bancroft (Final Destination: Bloodlines, Re: Uniting) is serving as director of photography and associate producer.
An award-winning writer, director and producer known for his 2020 freshman debut, All-in Madonna, Lim’s recent short, Obscura/옵스큐라, won the Director’s Guild of Canada’s Greenlight Award, and Best Short Drama and Best Screenplay at the 2024 Leo Awards. A longtime photo and video journalist in Victoria, BC, Lim also has a Masters candidate in screenwriting at the University of Victoria and has been a Photography Manager for five Olympic Games, and is an alumnus of the NSI Features First and the Harold Greenberg Shorts to Feature programs. He is also a multiple-time BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts and BravoFact awardee, and two-time recipient of the Telefilm Talent to Watch award.
The Bryce Lee Story is made possible with the support of Telefilm Canada and Creative BC.
