Ang Lee Casts His Son to Play Bruce Lee in Biopic on His Life

 

by Darian Scalamoni

    Martial Arts icon Bruce Lee has always been ripe for an adaptation of his life. There was a surge in the late legendary martial artist's interest once the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, Be Water was released during the pandemic. Now, it seems that an Oscar-winning director is set to bring a narrative about Lee's life to the big screen with a rather interesting casting choice as well.

    According to an exclusive from Deadline, Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Life of Pi) will helm the biographical drama aptly titled, Bruce Lee for Sony Pictures. Additionally, the director has cast his son, Mason Lee to play the lead part of the oriental icon. Dan Futterman (Capote, Foxcatcher) will write the script that will follow the life of the generational multi-hyphenate.

    Bruce Lee came to the United States in 1966 starring as Kato in The Green Hornet television series which introduced Lee to US audiences however, the sidekick moniker that Lee has accrued due to being the titular character's "right hand man" left the Chinese-American star desiring more leading roles. From there, Lee headed back to Hong Kong where he became a massive film star. Though he was on the precipice of American stardom with the martial arts flick, Enter the Dragon in 1973, Lee tragically and suddenly passed away during an automated dialogue replacement session for the movie. His autopsy revealed that there was fluid in his brain that led to his untimely at the age of 32.

    The casting of Mason Lee from his father may be surprising, however, also embedded in the report is news that Mason Lee has been training to play Bruce Lee for the past three years through the COVID lockdown. Additionally, he previously appeared in Billy Lynn's Halftime Walk and The Hangover Part III as well as Hong Kong dramatic films, Limbo and Mu Ji Zhe so he does have true acting experience. 

    Bruce Lee is not the first biographical film to follow the life of multifaceted star as Jason Scott Lee played Lee in 1993's Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story as well. As a highly successful director of Asian descent, Ang Lee is the perfect choice to helm a movie on Bruce Lee's life and with his passion for the material and years of development on the project, Bruce Lee has potential to garner critical and box-office success when the film is released.