Bruce Lee Returns to the Screen in First Feature Film to Use an Icon From the Past.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2001

The first theatrical feature film to digitally recreate an icon from the past in a major role through computer generated imaging is in pre-production. Shincine Films has recently acquired the rights from Concord Moon to have Bruce Lee star in a new martial arts film years after his death, announced Chul Shin of Korea-based Shincine Films. The film, tentatively titled "Dragon Warrior," will incorporate Bruce Lee into a $50 million production using state-of-the-art CGI technology and will include A-list stars and an A-list action director. Concord Moon is the company that holds all rights to the name and likeness of Bruce Lee as administered by Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee's widow) and Shannon Lee (Bruce Lee's daughter).

Shincine Films, the leading Korean film production company, will inaugurate its entree to the U.S. market with this film. "We chose this film as our first international project because we have the technology and resources to make this work, and there is no figure who commands more respect and excitement than Bruce Lee," said Mr. Shin. He noted that Bruce Lee was included in Time Magazine's list of "100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century." Shincine is currently setting up a west-coast office.

Shannon Lee said the family agreed to do this project, "because we believe in Shincine's and Mr. Shin's enthusiasm and commitment to making a first rate film."

Already a veteran of Hong Kong cinema, Bruce Lee first reached mainstream American audiences when he was cast in 1966 as Kato in the television series "The Green Hornet." Soon after, celebrities including Steve McQueen, James Coburn, James Garner, Lee Marvin and Kareem Abdul Jabbar were flocking to Lee to learn "Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do," the martial art that he developed and would make famous. Lee's big film break was 1971's international box-office sensation "The Big Boss" (a.k.a. "Fists of Fury") followed shortly by "Fist of Fury" (a.k.a. "The Chinese Connection"). He next wrote, directed and starred in the classic martial arts film "Way of the Dragon" (a.k.a. "Return of the Dragon"), remembered for its concluding martial arts battle between Lee and Chuck Norris. The enduring international martial arts classic "Enter the Dragon" followed. Already an enormous star, Lee's legend has only grown in the years that followed his untimely death at age 32.

The new film will be financed privately through Shincine Films. The deal for the Lee family was negotiated by their attorney Steve Younger of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and by A. Ian Keasler of Concord Moon.

Note to Editors: Color or Black & White photo of Bruce Lee is available. If you would like the photo e-mailed in jpeg format, call 818/990-2252. If you would like to download the photo in tif format for color, go to ndsna.com/brucelee.tif, or to download black & white go to ndsna.com/bruceleebw.tif.