‘Birth of the Dragon’: New Bruce Lee Origin Movie

Birth of the Dragon, a new origin movie about the rise of Bruce Lee, has been announced by QED International and Groundswell productions.

The biopic will tell the true story of Bruce Lee’s legendary fight with Kung Fu master, Wong Jack Man, that took place in Oakland in 1965. The controversial TKO contest, the last of Lee’s official martial arts career before he took on acting, took place against the backdrop of Chinatown’s criminal underworld controlled by the Hong Kong Triads. Deadline reports the film will also chronicle Lee and Wong’s teaming up to take on the Triads.

Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele will write the Birth of the Dragon screenplay, according to Variety. Wilkinson and Rivele also wrote the scripts for Ali and Nixon and are also currently working on a Freddie Mercury biopic starring Sacha Baron Cohen for GK films.

“We’re excited to retell the fantastic origin story of the world’s most famous martial arts icon, which in the hands of Christopher and Stephen, lends itself to an action thriller we’re sure will enthrall movie fans around the world,” said Bill Block from QED.

Birth of the Dragon will be another in a line of Bruce Lee origin films. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story was released in 1993, directed by Rob Cohen and based on the Bruce Lee biography, Bruce Lee: The Only Man I Knew written by Lee’s wife, Linda Lee Cadwell.

A release date for Birth of the Dragon is still to be confirmed.