Epic story of Bruce Lee’s master finally getting U.S. release

Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American rights to the martial arts biopics based on the life of Bruce Lee’s master Ip Man, titled Ip Man and Ip Man 2. Both films are directed by Wilson Yip and star Donnie Yen with action choreography by Sammo Hung. The films team-up Yip, Yen, and Hung who previously worked together on Kill Zone. Yip and Yen also worked together on Flash Point and Dragon Tiger Gate. Donnie Yen is currently Hong Kong’s biggest action star, gaining international recognition as the most diverse martial artist in the world.

Ip Man is a biopic based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun, and the first person to teach Wing Chun openly. He was also teacher and mentor to widely influential and acclaimed martial artist and filmmaker Bruce Lee.

Released theatrically in Asia in December 2008, Ip Man is considered to be one of the greatest martial arts movies of the past decade. Grossing over $21 million in Asia box office, the critically-acclaimed film has been nominated for numerous awards including an unprecedented 12 Hong Kong Film Award nominations, winning Best Film and Best Action Choreography. Ip Man premiered in North America at the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival and was the opening feature at 2009 Fantasia International Film Festival. Ip Man 2 will have its much-anticipated theatrical release in Asia on April 29, 2010 and its North American premiere at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival in June.

“No one ever imagined that Ip Man would be such a huge sensation. The box office in Hong Kong has exceeded over HK$25 million and in China over ¥100 million. It also made quite a stir in other parts of South East Asia. We have successfully turned a Wing Chun master into a national hero,” says Raymond Wong, producer of Ip Man and Ip Man 2. “The box office success and public praise of Ip Man did not only create a public longing for the sequel, it also inspired the production team to work together again. For Ip Man 2, we have put in more resources, added stronger cast, developed a more enriching storyline and created action sequences even more stunning than the first production. We hope that Ip Man 2 will be an even bigger hit than the first Ip Man.”

Ip Man is set to be released on DVD July 27, 2010. Well Go plans on a releasing Ip Man 2 theatrically in early 2011.

Check out the trailer for Ip Man below.