Action star and actor Donnie Yen has been enjoying a rather celebratory year. Two Hollywood films in with the hopeful prospect of another, it was just last month that he wrapped his latest pairing with director Wong Jing for the forthcoming Hong Kong crime drama, Chasing The Dragon.
As of last week’s kick off at EFM however, the word now is that Well Go USA has acquired the film for its release in North America and other English-speaking territories. The film reimagines Poon Man-kit’s 1991 crime epic, To Be Number One, with Yen in a cinematic revival of real-life crimeboss Ng Sek-ho, whose Scorsesean rags-to-riches story took to headlines with the escalation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Acclaimed cinematographer Jason Kwan (Young Bruce Lee, Cold War, Cold War 2) is joined by filmmaker Wong Jing in directing, and also culminates with celebrated actor Andy Lau in a reprisal of Lee Rock, the title character of Lawrence Ah Mon’s 1991 crime pics which Jing also produced.
Well Go USA President and CEO Doris Pfardrescher via Deadline
“We have been part of Donnie Yen’s fan club for many years and are excited to see him gain a larger audience in the U.S. so that more people can witness his true talent, “…And with our growing relationship with Mega-Vision and Wong Jing, we are delighted to bring both of these great films to the English-language territories through Well Go.”
It’s pretty safe to say that Yen has made his case clear, cut and dry for some respect from Hollywood. He shined in xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage after contributing immensely to the fanfare for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and so with his next and confirmed fourth Ip Man film on the way and the development of a Flash Point sequel, let’s hope his stateside return isn’t too far off.
Deadline’s report also included Well Go USA’s acquisition of fantasy action adventure, The Golden Monk from Jing and co-helmer Billy Chung with Kai Zheng starring.