Mason Lee, the son of famed filmmaker Ang Lee, will play Bruce Lee in a forthcoming film of the same name for Sony’s 3000 Pictures. Ang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountain) will direct the project from a script written by Dan Futterman (Capote, The Looming Tower, Foxcatcher). Futterman is taking over scripting duties after Jean Castelli, Alex Law, Mabel Cheung, and Wells Tower penned previous versions of the story.
It’s challenging to overestimate Lee’s astronomical impact on the martial arts film genre. Already a star in Asia, Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon catapulted his star into the stratosphere in the West. Had he lived beyond the age of 32, Lee would have achieved the success of actors like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, and more. Still, Lee is a household name despite his early passing, and few martial artists have risen to his level of notoriety since. Lee’s death was labeled “death by misadventure” by authorities, though cerebral edema likely caused his end due to an allergic reaction.
“Accepted as neither fully American nor fully Chinese, Bruce Lee was a bridge between East and West who introduced Chinese Kung Fu to the world, a scientist of combat and an iconic performing artist who revolutionized both the martial arts and action cinema,” Ang Lee told Deadline. “I feel compelled to tell the story of this brilliant, unique human being who yearned for belonging, possessed tremendous power in a 135-pound-frame, and who, through tireless hard work, made impossible dreams into reality.”
Ang Lee has dreamed about developing a Bruce Lee epic for a long time. He’s personally overseen Mason’s training for the project, who has been getting into shape for the role over the past three years. Mason has appeared in various films, including The Hangover Part II, Lucy, Limbo, and more. His father’s Bruce Lee project will place him in the spotlight like never before as he brings the legendary dragon to life on the silver screen.
“Bruce Lee is a longtime passion project for Ang and a deeply emotional story depicting the triumphs and conflicts of one of the foremost real-life action heroes of our time,” producer Elizabeth Gabler said. “All of us at Sony and 3000 Pictures are proud to help Ang and his filmmaking team create what we believe will be an extraordinary theatrical event.”
Ang Lee is directing Bruce Lee, with Lawrence Grey, Shannon Lee, Ang Lee, Ben Everard, and Brian Bell producing, and Gabler and Marisa Paiva overseeing the epic for Sony’s 3000 Pictures.