Mike Tyson Officially Joins Donnie Yen For IP MAN 3D

Following an epic press conference in Shanghai several days ago, the official word and details involving former heavy weight boxing champion-cum-actor Mike Tyson's involvement in the current production of the forthcoming threequel, Ip Man 3D starring returning action hero Donnie Yen. Tyson's involvement was initially reported back in March as principal photography began with word on the plot's focus toward titular martial arts Grandmaster's relationship with then young martial arts purveyor, Bruce Lee.

Details are still pending with regard to the latter as the production ended up at the business end of legal action from rights holders pertaining to the use of Lee's image and persona to help construct a lifelike hybrid iteration of Lee. For now though, Yen and Tyson are the news this week, and time will tell how all these factors will play out before before the film's planned release. It certainly helps the former boxer in the wake of his own career having added his latest appearance in Algerian actioner, Gates Of The Sun to his current list of credits beset largely by comic roles and an animated series, so who knows? This could be a predictor for what comes next should Tyson take interest in action films from here on out, in which case, I'd say I'm interested. 

Peep the details below and take it all in for the meantime!

SHANGHAI, May 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, invited by famous Chinese producer and entrepreneur Shi Jianxiang, officially joined the cast of Ip Man 3 on a press conference in Shanghai on May 6, 2015. The $36 million Kung Fu biopic reunites the team that made the first two movies, and is executive-produced by Shi, founder and CEO of Shanghai Kuailu Investment Group. 

Martial artist Donnie Yen, who will reprise his role as Ip Man in the third installment, exchanged gifts with Tyson on Wednesday's press conference. Tyson gave a boxing glove to Yen, who in return gave a set of mook jongs, or wooden dummies used in martial arts training. Executive producer Shi also sent a sword to Tyson, wishing him a thriving film career in China. 

According to Shi, Tyson decided to come aboard right after a conversation with him on a Chinese Kong Fu movie earlier this year, when Shi was invited to Los Angeles for the Oscars and investment opportunities with Paramount Pictures. Tyson said he's a big fan of Ip Man and has watched the first two movies more than three times each. 

"I liked reading martial arts novels when I was a little child, and have been fascinated with Kong Fu since then," said Shi. "I think of myself as macho, generous and bold, just like those novel characters. After talking with Tyson, I also found him warm and loyal to friends. That's why we swore to be brothers." 

Ip Man (1893-1972) was a Chinese martial artist who popularized the practice of Wing Chun, a discipline specialized in close-range combat. One of his most famous pupils was Bruce Lee, who later developed his own discipline, Jeet Kune Do. Ip Man 3 focuses on the master-student relationship between Ip Man and Bruce Lee. But in the opinion of Shi, the movie is not just a story. 

"The movie also conveys the spirit of emotion and justice," said Shi. "This year marks the 70th anniversary of World War II, and the 110th of the founding of the Chinese film industry. I feel like I'm not only publishing a movie, but carrying forward the Chinese spirit as well." 

Tyson is set to have a significant role in Ip Man 3, playing a property developer who also happens to be a street fighter. He's going to have some intense fighting scenes with Donnie Yen. Shi hopes that the introduction of Tyson can further facilitate the cultural exchange between China and U.S., especially in the film industry. 

"I always have a dream about Chinese movies," said Shi. "Chinese culture can provide such great raw ingredients, but we lack techniques and professionalism of production. By learning from the Hollywood, we can play a greater role on the world stage and make our voices heard." 

Shi said as China's movies industry continuing to soar, it has drawn continued investment and more attention from overseas stars. In 2012, the Asian superpower overtook Japan to become the second largest film market worldwide, closing fast on the international movie giant the U.S. China's box office grew 37% over the past year to $4.8 billion. Every day in China, 15 new cinema screens are added to the country's huge collection of 25,000. 

In this favorable environment, the previous Ip Man series produced by Pegasus Films chief Raymond Wong grossed $37 million worldwide, and created a sensation for a while among the audience. Shi is therefore optimistic about the box office prospects of Ip Man 3, which is tentatively scheduled for release in 3D in the first quarter of 2016.

IP MAN 3D Production In Trouble With Bruce Lee's Estate

Production is only in its ninth day for director Wilson Yip's fifth outing with actor and action star Donnie Yen with the new film, Ip Man 3D after years of sitting in development limbo. The news was joyful, to say the least, as filming commenced well over a week ago with Pegasus Motion Pictures announcing plans to star former world heavyweight champion boxer-cum-actor Mike Tyson with Yen in addition to a CG-enhanced young rendition of martial icon, Bruce Lee, as reportedly approved by his brother, Robert Lee.

Well, it turns out we've hit our first snag, and it can't be good either. THR has news that Bruce Lee Enterprises is reportedly trying to stop what it claims is the completely unauthorized use of the late Jeet Kune Do founder's face and voice. BLE, of which daughter Shannon Lee is the CEO, has stated it has "undisputed ownership of all intellectual property rights" to the late film star and solely owns all global rights to his likeness in any capacity (i.e. name,image, likeness, persona, signature, voice, attributes, marks, logos, symbols, works, photographs and writings), despite the other Lee claiming to have intellectual rights as well.

What could be an interesting factor is that Bruce Lee's estate is also simultaneously helping developing what it aims will be "the definitive Bruce Lee biographical film", although that hasn't been made clear just yet if this is related in anyway. At any rate, hopefully things go smoother from here on out between both parties, lest Ip Man 3D become a much more unceremonious exit from the genre for its leading man.

Stay tuned for more info.

IP MAN 3D To Be Donnie Yen's Last Action Film

There's no question that international action star Donnie Yen has had a massive and memorable career following his vast cultural upbringing in the states and abroad. His earlier career with Yuen Wo Ping before growing his own team which would see a diverse enlistment of names like Michael Woods, John Salvitti, Yuji Shimomura and Kenji Tanigaki have contributed greatly to his status as a Hong Kong superstar in film while wearing several hats from star to produer and director, and even crossing over between Asia, Europe, and for a time or two, Hollywood.

Needless to say, it's been a hell of a ride for Yen who has since moved onto starting his own production banner, Super Hero Films back in 2013 with the looming possibility that he would retire his footing in front of the camera one day. He's made conversation of it on multiple occasions, and such a topic now comes on the seven-year lifespan of surging popularity he's received following his legendary execution of the title role, Ip Man for director Wilson Yip - the forth in a string of hits reviving the glorious aesthetic of Hong Kong action cinema between star and director since the 2005 crime pic, Sha Po Lang.

Ip Man was a box-office hit in 2008 following its sequel featuring Yen with fellow legends Sammo Hung and late action star, actor Darren Shahlavi in 2010, and while a third had been in development hell for the time being, Yen was still piling up on projects that still haven't seen much news as of late, including his two projects for Super Hero Films - 70's cop thriller Dragon City with director Derek Kwok and the 70's kung fu drama, The Master with Soi Cheang directing. Then there's the matter of the second part of Yen's most critically received film as of late, Iceman which ended up being split in two parts due to budget concerns among other things.

The list really does go on, what with Noodle Man still in the running, but now it appears Yen is ready to draw the line in the wake of the latest news of production finally kicking off for Ip Man 3D with Wilson Yip directing. Yen has been keeping to social media about this project much more in recent days while ramping up his own excitement in having actor and former world heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson on board for the film in addition to showcasing this final installment with a CG-hybrid performance of a young Bruce Lee, a point of the titular Wing Chun grandmaster's own history.

Moreover, it was just today that Yen posted on Facebook that he would make Ip Man 3D the best movie of his career, and for good reason, as Jaynestars now forwards news that Yen plans on making Ip Man 3D, incidentally, his final film. As for whether or not that means his last film in front of the camera or on set in general remains to be seen, although the Jaynestars article does cite Yen stating issues pointed to creativity over physical endurance when it comes to action, specifically as he's had to shred some weight for his role in its aging state.

So, what next? Of course, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2 is still on par for this August with some much-needed info about Noodle Man and Iceman Part 2, but what of Dragon City or The Master, or even these titles? Those are questions that need answering, and hopefully those answers will be made clear long before then.

For now though, for better or worse, Ip Man 3D appears to be the final straw for Yen whose career has served a major purpose in embodying the genre and what it has become today. Cheers to Yen and his wife Cissy Wang, and while I won't say goodbye just yet, I will say, Good Luck.

I'm setting the goal for Ipman 3 to be the best movie of my career ! Lets bring it on!!
Posted by Donnie Yen-甄子丹 Official on Friday, March 27, 2015

Stay tuned for more info.

IP MAN 3D Commences Filming, Casts Mike Tyson And A CGI Bruce Lee

It was only a few years ago as action star Donnie Yen was promting the 2013 cop thriller, Special ID, while pitching the idea of possibly casting former boxer Mike Tyson in a hopeful sequel at the time. You least expected that sort of thing would happen even as Tyson himself was bolstering his own acting career in TV and film, namely with Todd Phillips in the first two Hangover movies, and an appearance in Jean-Marc Mineo's Gates Of The Sun to name a few.

Alas, consider yourself surprised (or not) at the notion that Yen would finally be getting his wish featuring the former world heavyweight champion in the forthcoming production of Ip Man 3D, according to THR. Filming has begun today in Shanghai with Pegasus Motion Pictures and producer Raymond Wong behind the new film which will see Tyson in the role of a property developer as well as a street fighter, therein partaking in the cinematic universe via screenwriter Edmond Wong's script which will principally center on the title character's relationship to his most famous student, Bruce Lee.

THR also reports that the performer portraying Lee will undergo computer-generated enhancements since the production couldn't find an actor able enough to duplicate Lee's on-screen intensity - a lesson long learned since the days of Bruceploitation no doubt, but we're bound to see how this one will hold up, for better or worse.

The first film in 2008 was a critical and commercial hit, a fourth in line of films between Yen and director Wilson Yip leading to a fifth with actor and martial arts legend Darren Shahlavi long prior to his passing earlier this year. There have been other iterations of the character, including Tony Leung's performance in the elongated production of Wong Kar-Wai's The Grandmaster, as well as Herman Yau's television series with actor Dennis To and actor Anthony Wong's most recent role in Yau's Ip Man: The Final Fight with actor Eric Tsang. Production on a third with Yen initially saw a series of stops and starts in the last several while Yen kept things moving with other titles, including the two part remake, Iceman 3D which is still pending the release of its second part.

Other titles with Yen are stil pending, including his long-awaited Hollywood debut, Noodle Man. At any rate though, Ip Man 3D is finally happening, so no more speculation...except for all the fanboys now in an uproar over who would beat Ip Man (or Yen) in a fair fight.

Facebook arguments begin in 3...2...

Pegasus And Yen's Super Hero Films Board IP MAN 3D, WESLEY And THE SEVEN WEAPONS

Donnie Yen in "Kung Fu Jungle" (2014)

Here's at least one fact that I think a handful of us can agree on: Most of 2014 has been fairly critical of action star Donnie Yen leading up to the much more favored recent release of his newest endeavor, Kung Fu Jungle. Keep that in mind as we enter a new year that will see several of Yen's upcoming projects unfold following the launch of his Super Hero Films banner a little less than a few years ago, including the long-awaited production of Ip Man 3D with legendary action masters Sammo Hung and Yuen Woo-Ping designing the fights, among other titles.

That said, word has it from Jaynestars with news of producer Raymond Chow's announcement of at least two more films to be produced in collaboration between his own company, Pegasus Entertainment, and Yen's banner. One such title will be an adaptation of famed author Ni Kuang's serial sci-fi action adventure property, Wesley (idiomaically pronounced as Wisely), based on a fictional character whose otherworldly exploits often delve into the paranormal and supernatural have been subject to various mediums, including films of yesteryear with actors Chow Yun Fat and Sam Hui. The other will be The Seven Weapons, originally a televised Wuxia drama series which premiered in Asia back in 2010, based on the work of renowned novelist and writer, Gu Long, which focused on seven interconnected stories with individual weapons as the respective themes.

Yen's fanbase isn't going to be bored any time soon in lieu of all this news, especially with his priorities at Super Hero Films in addition to his crossover debut lead in Noodle Man with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. Again, 2014 wasn't exactly a stellar year for Yen, which obviously explains why Iceman 3D - Part 2 has been pushed back, although he did make a lot of noise at the time, and it is high time he got a principle Hollywood role to go with his upcoming appearance in Yuen's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Legend.

At any rate though, with the positive responses to his latest cinematic kung fu bout with Wang Baoqiang late last year, it appears Yen is on track for another good year adding to his stellar career film. So, relax and enjoy the show.

H/T: City On Fire