Justin Lin Developing Bruce Lee-Inspired TV Series on Cinemax
"Fast & Furious" director Justin Lin is working with the family of the late martial arts icon Bruce Lee to bring to life a television series based on Lee's writings before his untimely death. The TV series has reportedly been picked up by Cinemax, with Jonathan Tropper identified as the writer for the series.
According to a report in Deadline, the TV series called "Warrior" is a "passion project" for Lee and Lin. This is Lin's first project under the TV Division of Perfect Storm Entertainment, which is a joint venture with Bruno Wu's Seven Stars Studio. As early as 2013, Perfect Storm has been talking with Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee and Bruce Lee Enterprises, to develop Lee's material into a TV series.
"Warrior" is described as "a visceral crime drama that traces the path of a gifted but morally corrupt fighter thrown into crisis after a lifelong quest for vengeance is undermined." It is based on a concept of Lee which were discovered in a collection of handwritten notes by his daughter, Shannon, years after his death in 1973. Shannon and Lin pitched the idea to Cinemax, who brought in Tropper to pen the series. Tropper is known for his work on Cinemax's "Banshee" series for TV.
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According to another report in Slash Film, prior to his death, Lee was already talking to Warner Brothers for a TV series he would like to develop, tentatively called "The Warrior." The report also mentioned a TV interview that Lee gave, where he described the show that he wanted to do was "a Western," but was not what Warner Bros. and Paramount were interested in doing.
The TV series will be executive produced by Tropper for Cinemax; Lin, Tony Craig Poon and Danielle Woodrow for Perfect Storm and Shannon Lee for Bruce Lee Enterprises. Lin will direct the potential pilot.
Apart from being a martial arts and action star, Lee was also a writer, writing philosophy pieces and poetry.
