The force is strong with Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen. So strong in fact, the action star has reportedly snagged a role in Episode VIII of the Star Wars franchise.
The announcement is sure to thrill Chinese Star Wars fans, as well as martial arts fans around the world.
Yen, 51, will play a Chinese Jedi who allies himself with Han Solo, the iconic space smuggler, according to the Apple Daily.
He will begin work on the film next month in London, according to the same report.
Although the article did not cite any official sources, it also confirmed Harrison Ford will return as Han Solo.
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Yen allegedly won the part over eight other actors, among them Jet Li and Daniel Wu. Yen and Li were apparently favored for the role, due to their fighting skills and high proficiency in English.
Being awarded the role likely came down to the Force-commanding dollar, as Yen only asks USD4 million a film compared to Li’s USD10 million.
The actor was purportedly informed of his Jedi selection a month ago, but was forced to keep mum on the decision under an agreement to not leak the news.
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The Apple Daily has been known to Force-power the rumor mill from time to time with outrageous claims. As such, this report should probably be viewed with a sensible dose of skepticism, as the only actor officially confirmed for Episode VIII is Oscar Isaac.
Many Star Wars fans have also pointed out that it's unlikely the next Star Wars film will begin filming next month. Regardless, the announcement has generated a considerable amount of buzz - if Photoshopped fan photos are any indication.
READ MORE: Four decades late, the original Star Wars trilogy makes its China debut
[Images via geekculture.co]
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