Bruce Lee’s story next for us, says Ip Man 4 producer, as Donnie Yen calls film ‘a very good ending’ to his kung fu acting career
- After four films about the teacher it’s time for his pupil – Ip Man disciple Bruce Lee will be focus of future films, Ip Man 4 co-producer says
- Ip Man 4 was chosen to open kung fu film festival this week in Foshan, southern Chinese birthplace of martial arts masters Ip, Lee and Wong Fei-hung
Foshan, one of the birthplaces of martial arts in China, which has nurtured kung fu masters such as Bruce Lee, Ip Man and Wong Fei-hung, is in the limelight this week for its hosting of a festival of kung fu films, now in its third year.
The week-long festival in Guangdong opened on Tuesday and will feature screenings of more than 40 films, including Ip Man 4: The Finale , which goes on general release in China on Friday and which was shown as the opening film of the festival.
As he has done on separate occasions in recent days, Ip Man 4 star Donnie Yen Ji-dan reaffirmed at the China (Foshan) Greater Bay Area Kung Fu Film Festival that it will be his last kung fu movie, citing his injury wracked body and the difficulty in attaining further breakthroughs in the martial arts film genre.
“I have starred in 78 movies in total. I did my best every time as I love movies … People might view actors as filled with glory, but we, especially those of us who make action and kung fu movies, have a very harsh life. Our bodies are filled with injuries and pain.
“I love each [of my] movies, but [I feel] I have already made [all the] breakthroughs [I can] in the kung fu movie genre. For Ip Man 4 to be my swansong work, it’s a very good ending.”