I blundered my earlier report on Wednesday pertaining to the news regarding one of action star Donnie Yen‘s most recent films announced, Noodle Man. The film was mentioned last year as the long-awaited Hollywood debut for the soon-to-be 52 year old martial arts superstar following an electric 31-year career in film spanning from Hong Kong cinema to action films in other markets, with just a few appearances in Hollywood to boot, and there is some actual news to share, still.
The film will reportedly begin principal photography this summer with Daming Chen helming and Michael Shamberg producing. The film will center on Yen in the role of a down-and-out ex-cop-turned-noodle shop owner who crosses paths with the Chinese drug lord responsible for his partner’s death fifteen years earlier. Casting rumors are rampant with the IMDb page listing actress Michelle Yeoh with previous mentions of actors Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino said to star as well, so hopefully we’ll learn more on that end. It’s also interesting in that Yen has even went on social media himself to announce his currently-filming Ip Man 3D to be his last action film, which would be reasonable considering concerns he’s shared to the public regarding his own health. Perhaps what he meant to say is that it would be his last kung fu film, but that doesn’t necessarily take away the physical demands of doing other action movies which Noodle Man is presumably said to be.
The film is just one of several titles which were said to be on the way, including Dragon City, The Master, Wesley and The Seven Fortunes, whilst other projects may be in store for his own banner at Superhero Films since 2013, which could mark the start of a prominent film career behind the lens. Time will tell as we wait to see what happens next, and whether or not Yen’s FINAL outing in the action and martial arts genre will come to pass. Meanwhile, Well Go USA will release Kung Fu Killer into the North American wild next week followed by The Weinstein Company’s August release of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Legend.
Stay tuned for more info.
Head’s up to City On Fire for pointing out my error. At least someone reads my blog!
H/T: Jaynestars
