The production of “Fist of Fury: Legend of Chen Zhen” was announced in a press conference held in Shanghai last Sunday, November 15, 2009 attended by co-writer and co-producer Gordon Chang, director and co-producer Andrew Lau and casts Donnie Yen, Huang Bo, Anthony Wong, Shu Qi, Zhou Yang and Huo Si Yan.
Peter Lam of Media Asia Films and Wang Chang Tian of Enlight Pictures were also there as this film was their joint venture together with Shanghai Film Media and Lau’s production company Basic Pictures. By the way, Gordon Chan joined Enlight Pictures as chief consultant and has 8 movies in line, including this film.
“The Legend of Chen Zhen” is a martial arts film set to continue the television series “Fist of Fury” first done by Donnie Yen in 1995. The character role was originally made famous by our beloved actor Bruce Lee in the 1972 film “Fist of Fury” seconded by Jet Li in 1994 “Fist of Legend”.
Chen Zhen is a legendary Chinese martial artist who struggled against the Japanese during their occupation in China. He was actually a fictional creation of writer-director Lo Wei who based the character on the infamous real-life student of martial arts master Huo Yuan-jia, the same master portrayed by Jet Li in “Fearless”.
The story of Chen Zhen in the “Fist of Fury” and “Fist of Legend” ends in him faking his own death after he was showered with bullets when he discovered and took avenge of those behind his mentor’s death. He goes away and lives his life in hiding for the people to have peace. In this upcoming movie, the story continues as Chen Zhen returns to Shanghai after 7 years and disguises himself as a mysterious wealthy businessman from abroad.
He befriended a notorious mafia boss and the Japanese to penetrate the criminal underworld. At night, he disguises as caped crusader to find the Japanese’s assassination list and fight the evil connivance that is pestering the country.
Filming is currently being done in Shanghai and is projected to wrap up by March 2010. It will be theatrically released on October 1, 2010, Hongkong.
Sources: kungfucinema.com, wu-jing.org, asianpopcorn.com, twitchfilm.net, en.wikipedia.org
Tagged in: Donnie Yen, Fist of Fury, Fist of Fury: The Legend of Chen Zhen, The Legend of Chen Zhen
