4 /10 1 Votes
Directed by George Nolfi Initial release 13 September 2016 | 3.9/10 IMDb Cinematography Amir Mokri Director George Nolfi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Produced by Michael London
Janice Williams
Christopher Wilkinson
Stephen J. Rivele
James H. Pang Written by Christopher Wilkinson
Stephen J. Rivele Starring Philip Ng
Xia Yu
Billy Magnussen Music by Reza Safinia
H. Scott Salinas Music director Reza Safinia, H. Scott Salinas Producers Christopher Wilkinson, Stephen J. Rivele, Michael London, Pang Hong, Leo Shi Young, Janice Williams Screenplay Christopher Wilkinson, Stephen J. Rivele Cast Philip Ng, Billy Magnussen, Xia Yu, Terry Chen, Teresa Navarro Similar Max Steel, The Mummy, Bruce Lee ‑ The Fighter, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, The Boss Baby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth of the Dragon is a 2016 American martial arts biographical drama film directed by George Nolfi and written by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele. The film stars Philip Ng, Xia Yu, and Billy Magnussen. The true story revolves around the young martial artist Bruce Lee, who challenges kung fu master Wong Jack Man in 1965 in San Francisco. Principal photography began on November 17, 2015 in Vancouver. It was selected to be screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is going to be released by Blumhouse Tilt and WWE Studios.
Contents
Birth of the dragon trailer 2016 bruce lee movie
Plot
In 1965 in San Francisco, Bruce Lee, spurred by his student, Steve McKee, challenges Shaolin monk and kung fu master Wong Jack Man to a martial arts fight.
Cast
Production
On February 19, 2013, it was announced that a biopic titled Birth of the Dragon about young martial artist Bruce Lee was in development, writing Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele. QED International and Groundswell Productions would finance and produce the film along with their Bill Block and Michael London, respectively. While Wilkinson and Rivele would also produce the film. On May 30, 2014, George Nolfi was announced to be the director of the film, and Janice Williams was also attached as producer. In June 2015, there was a casting call for the role of Lee, in search for a 20 to 30 years old martial arts expert. Mike Moh was under consideration for the titular role. On November 16, 2015, the film's cast was announced and it included Billy Magnussen as a martial arts student, Steve McKee; Philip Ng as Bruce Lee; Xia Yu as Wong Jack Man; Jingjing Qu as McKee's love interest, Xiulan; and Jin Xing as the brutal crime boss, Auntie Blossom. Chinese company Kylin Films came on board to finance the film, while QED left the project, Groundswell would still produce the film. London would be the producer along with Janice Williams, Wilkinson, Rivele, and Kylin's James H. Pang, while Leo Shi Young, David Nicksay, and Nolfi would executive produce, and Helen Y. Zhong, Jaeson Ma, and Joel Viertel would co-produce the film. Corey Yuen came on board to design the film's action sequences, which is set in 1965 in and around Oakland and San Francisco, about the actual fight between Shaolin Master Jack Man and the young Lee.
Filming
Filming was previously scheduled to begin on October 28, 2015 at the North Shore Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Principal photography on the film began on November 17, 2015 in the Metro Vancouver area. Filming would last through January 24, 2016.
Reception
The film has drawn accusations of 'whitewashing' (giving a Caucasian actor the role of an Asian character) from fans, who said that the Bruce Lee film unfairly focused on a fictional male Caucasian character, Steve McKee, who is presented as Lee's friend.
Shannon Lee, the daughter of Bruce Lee, distanced herself from the film, saying that the film, like others about her father, "lack a complete understanding of his philosophies and artistry. They haven't captured the essence of his beliefs in martial arts or storytelling."