Universal Pictures recently obtained the film rights to the 1970s TV series Kung Fu and has hired David Leitch to direct contemporary action film remake, according to Deadline. Leitch is no stranger to action-packed projects, as he previously directed the likes of Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, and John Wick, even working as a stunt double for Matt Damon multiple times in Bourne Ultimatum.
In addition to Kung Fu, Leitch is also set to direct a remake of Bruce Lee’s 1973 martial arts film Enter The Dragon. Information about the cast, plot, and release date has yet to be revealed, although Universal Pictures is actively searching for a writer to get the long-anticipated project started.
The original ABC series, which ran from 1972 to 1975, starred David Carradine as Shaolin monk and martial-arts expert who flees China after his master is killed. A peaceful man unless provoked, Carradine’s character wanders across the American West to search for his half-brother, all while defending the helpless and avoiding assassins. A huge hit at the time, the TV series continues to stay relevant in pop culture thanks to references in films like Office Space and Pulp Fiction, most notably in Quentin Tarantino’s casting of Carradine as Bill in Kill Bill. With Leitch’s keen eye for directing action sequences and original TV show creator Ed Spielman on board as executive producer, the legacy of Kung Fu’s martial arts glory continues to live on.
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