donnie yen
Donnie Yen’s vow to Bruce Lee over 25 years ago: ‘I won’t let him down’
- Hong Kong martial artist Donnie Yen Ji-dan, 58, said in a 1995 interview that he “will not let Bruce Lee down.”
- “I think he was a great kung fu fighter with unsurpassed skills,” Yen said. “I also respect his wisdom and foresight. If his spirit is watching now, I won’t let him down.”
- Yen’s acting career started after he was cast in the 1984 film “Drunken Tai Chi.” He was later cast in the 1985 romantic comedy “Mismatched Couples,” which almost jeopardized his future in the film industry.
- The film “Legend of the Wolf” marked his directorial debut in 1997. He admitted in an interview that he was struggling at the time and only had 100 Hong Kong dollars (approximately $12.80) to his name.
- Yen achieved international fame after being cast in the starring role of “Ip Man,” the 2008 biographical martial arts film based on the life of Bruce Lee’s Wing Chun teacher.
Before becoming a well-known actor, Donnie Yen faced several ups and downs while working in the film industry throughout the decades, including taking on a romantic comedy role that almost jeopardized his career.
Yen, whose full name is Donnie Yen Ji-dan, landed his first acting role in the 1984 movie “Drunken Tai Chi” after the brother of one of his mother’s students asked him to go to a casting call, according to South China Morning Post (SCMP).
‘Ip Man’ star vs Ip Man student: Donnie Yen faces off against Bruce Lee in resurfaced animated short
Action movie star Donnie Yen battles against iconic martial artist and actor Bruce Lee in a three-minute animated video going viral over eight years after its original debut.
Donnie Yen vs. Bruce Lee: The 2013 3D animated short film “A Warrior’s Dream” recently went viral when Yen shared it on his official Instagram account on Nov. 19.
Donnie Yen, other Asian actors share heartfelt praise for ‘Shang-Chi’ and Simu Liu
Action superstar Donnie Yen shared a heartfelt message for actor Simu Liu about starring in the upcoming Marvel Studios film, “Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings.”
Asian representation: Australian martial artist and host Andy Trieu conducted a virtual interview with Yen and uploaded a clip of the conversation to social media on Aug. 17.
Hiroyuki Sanada Joins Donnie Yen, Rina Sawayama, Keanu Reeves in ‘John Wick 4’
“Mortal Kombat” star Hiroyuki Sanada will join Donnie Yen, Rina Sawayama and Keanu Reeves in “John Wick 4” as an old friend of the title character.
Movie details: Sanada will be playing a character known as Watanabe. The character’s role in the plot has not been released except that he and Wick share several common enemies, Collider reported.
Donnie Yen Joins Cast of ‘John Wick 4’
Donnie Yen is joining Keanu Reeves in “John Wick 4,” the film’s director Chad Stahelski recently confirmed.
The announcement: Stahelski said they are looking forward to working with the 57-year-old Hong Kong actor in the film’s fourth installment, Deadline exclusively reported.
Donnie Yen is Now the New ‘Fireman’ Ambassador for the Hong Kong Fire Services Department
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is utilizing the star power of international actor Donnie Yen to shine the spotlight on real-life heroes.
One of Hong Kong’s Greatest Action Film Directors Passes Away at Age 58
Hong Kong director Benny Chan Muk-sing, whose known works include the 1996 film “Big Bullet” and the 2004 “New Police Story” reboot, passed away on Sunday at 58 years old.
Ailing auteur: Chan has reportedly been suffering from nasopharyngeal cancer (nose cancer), reports Yahoo News.
Donnie Yen to Play a Chinese Mexican Drug Kingpin in ‘Golden Empire’
Actor Donnie Yen will produce and star in “Golden Empire,” a crime thriller centered on a notorious drug kingpin wanted by the U.S. and Mexican governments.
The film is set to explore the complexities of the Chinese Mexican character, who hits the top of the most wanted list in both countries.
#BoycottMulan Trends Again After Donnie Yen Celebrates Hong Kong’s Return to ‘Motherland’
Martial arts star Donnie Yen recently celebrated Hong Kong’s handover to China, sparking heavy criticism from fans and renewed calls to #BoycottMulan.
Pro-Beijing post: Yen, who plays Commander Tung in Disney’s upcoming live-action Mulan remake, becomes the film’s second cast member along with lead Liu Yifei to spark backlash from fans.
‘Mulan’ Director’s Jaw Dropped the First Time She Saw Donnie Yen Use a Sword
Niki Caro, director of the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Mulan,” has admitted that her jaw dropped after witnessing Donnie Yen’s martial arts skills on set.
The 53-year-old director told AsiaOne that Yen’s astonishing display of swordsmanship was so quick that she had to shoot the scene again in slow motion.
‘Ip Man’ Star Donnie Yen Donates $128,000 to Fight Coronavirus
Donnie Yen, the 56-year-old star of the hit “Ip Man” franchise, made a donation of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (around $128,600) to medical workers fighting the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan.
The announcement was made in a 28-second Weibo video where he thanked those who are fighting on the front lines against the COVID-19 outbreak, which is believed to have originated from a wet market in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province of China, according to South China Morning Post.
Donnie Yen Reveals He Only Had $12 to His Name When He was Directing Films
Donnie Yen, star of the “Ip Man” franchise and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” is one of the many multi-million dollar actors to come from Hong Kong, but it has not always been easy.
Speaking to Taiwan GQ, the 56-year-old actor only had 100 Hong Kong dollars ($12) under his name while he was a struggling film director and had to rely on his production team for food, according to South China Morning Post.
