Age: 62
male
Donnie Yen Chi-tan is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and action director. He is the recipient of various accolades, including three Golden Horse Awards and five Hong Kong Film Awards. He is best known for portraying Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the Ip Man film series, namely Ip Man (2008), Ip Man 2 (2010), Ip Man 3 (2015), and Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019). He also served as co-producer for the spin-off Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018). Born in Guangdong, Yen developed an interest in martial arts at a young age, and began experimenting with various styles, including tai chi and other traditional Chinese martial arts. At age 18, he auditioned for action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping in Hong Kong. He landed his first starring role in the 1984 Hong Kong martial arts action film Drunken Tai Chi. He made his breakthrough role as the antagonist General Nap-lan in Once Upon a Time in China II (1992), opposite Jet Li's character. He appeared in several other Hong Kong kung fu films, including Iron Monkey (1993) and Wing Chun (1994). In 1997, he starred in his directorial debut film Legend of the Wolf. Yen made his American debut in Highlander: Endgame (2000), followed by a cameo in Blade II (2002). He went on to appear in the American films Shanghai Knights (2003), Rogue One (2016), XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017), Mulan (2020), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). He has continued to be active in Hong Kong cinema, appearing in the well-received films Hero (2002), SPL: Sha Po Lang (2005), 14 Blades (2010), Wu Xia (2011), Kung Fu Jungle (2014), Chasing the Dragon (2017), Enter the Fat Dragon (2020), Raging Fire (2021), and The Prosecutor (2024), among others. In television, Yen portrayed fictional character Chen Zhen in the television series Fist of Fury (1995); he reprised the role in the 2010 film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen. For portraying Ip Man in the Ip Man film series (2008-2019), Yen is credited by many for contributing to the popularisation of Wing Chun in China. Alongside Kung fu, particularly Wing Chun, Yen is also known for incorporating mixed martial arts (MMA) elements into his action choreography. Aside from his acting, in 1997, he established his own production company, Bullet Films, which choreographed the action for Western blockbusters like Blade II (2002) and Stormbreaker (2006).
Donnie Yen
John Tanaka
for John Tanaka in F-Zero (2024) Live Action Adaptation
Suggested by hommedeguerre
A new, over-the-top, high octane, neon-coated cyberpunk, action comedy racing story to help flesh out F-Zero's rather weak and nonsensical backstory, focusing more on the racing with an underground illegal sports gambling subplot. Story centers around Rick Wheeler, an undercover police officer placed in with an F-Zero racing team, Team Apex; comprised of Jody Summer, Dr. Stewart, Tanaka, and Baba, replacing retired racer Silver Neelsen, by his superior, Commander McCloud, tasked with uncovering an underground gambling ring run by mafia boss Don Genie. Wheeler initially struggles to gain the trust of his racing team, but grows to earn their respect thru a series of race victories for the team over rival teams Team Samurai; comprising of Goroh, Guster, Brilliant, Blitz, and Buster. Team Nebula; comprising of Pico, Octoman, Draq, Gomar and Shioh. Team Beast; comprising of Beastman, Leon, Billy, Chain, and Dr. Clash. Team Arrow; comprising of Super Arrow, Mrs. Arrow, Lucy Liberty, Kate Alen, and Jack Levin. Team Shadow; comprising of Black Shadow, Rex, Gazelle, Skull, and Zoda, and the mysterious Team Falcon; comprised of a single pilot, the GOAT racer Captain Falcon, and his engineer, Mr. EAD. over the course of the story Wheeler unravels a deeper conspiracy surrounding the gambling ring involving the kidnapping and replacing of Captain Falcon with a clone known as Blood Falcon by the true kingpin, Deathborn.
