Bruce Lee Biopic Breaks Down the Boredom on CCTV

Bruce Lee Biopic Breaks Down the Boredom on CCTV

State-run China Central Television has never snagged any awards for provocative or enthralling programming. However, in early April, CCTV began shooting a 40-part series of kung fu legend Bruce Lee as part of the mammoth effort to promote Chinese culture and history before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The series has a 6.4 million USD budget and will be filmed in Hong Kong, the U.S. and the southern Chinese city of Shunde, Lee’s ancestral home. Currently, there is a Bruce Lee theme park being built in Shunde that includes a museum and martial arts training center.

While mainland China takes credit for Bruce Lee at every opportunity, evident by both the park and the biopic, the kung fu master was born in San Francisco, grew up in British Hong Kong and spent most of his adult life in California. Lee never had any significant ties with China's mainland.

Director Rob Cohen selected Danny Chan, an award-winning actor, to play the part of the famed icon. Similarities between the two men may have influenced this selection. Both Lee and Chan are kung fu experts, movie stars and Chinese. Actually, Chan’s family and friends have always commented on his uncanny resemblance to Lee.

Chan said of the project, "I hope the drama will spread Bruce Lee's 'never give up' spirit during the Olympic 2008."

Unlike Lee, who took up martial arts because he was brutally beaten by a street gang in Hong Kong, Chan took up kung fu like so many others of his generation –– in homage to Lee.

Chan’s less than gritty martial arts beginnings have caused the actor mingled emotions about the upcoming role. He claims to feel both “nervous and excited.”

Playing Linda Lee, Bruce's wife, is 25-year-old American actress Michelle Lang. She will move to south China in May for four months to begin shooting scenes for the television show.

Should Chan capture Lee’s tenacious iron will on camera, he may just pack some punch for CCTV.

-Small Swords Staff

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