Cinemax To Bring Bruce Lee’s Project To Life

Bruce Lee’s “Warrior” Project

Almost 50 years after Bruce Lee said studio executives refused his TV show pitch, which he attributed in part to their unwillingness to cast an Asian lead, Cinemax will be bringing the legendary martial artist’s project “Warrior” to life.

The plot was about a young Chinese man named Ah Sahm, who was trained in martial arts and emigrates from China to San Francisco with fellow Chinese immigrants in 1878. While on a mission to find someone, Ah Sahm becomes an enforcer for a Tong called The Hop Wei after showing his martial arts skills.

In addition to the central storyline, “Warrior” explores the post-Civil War West in the years before the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. In 1972, a year before Bruce’s death, Warner Brothers produced a series, Kung Fu, that starred David Carradine. It was heavily rumored that Warner Brothers stole Bruce’s concept for Warrior and created, Kung Fu.

For the upcoming show, Bruce’s daughter, Shannon Lee of Bruce Lee Entertainment, has been named executive producer of the Cinemax’s original series, which will be based on her father’s writings. The 10-episode action-packed crime drama premieres Friday, April 5. The cast Olivia Cheng, Jason Tobin, Dianne Doan, Kieran Bew, Langley Kirkwood and more.

By: Maytinee Kramer

April 1, 2019