Longstanding hopes for a film adaptation of the classic martial arts series, Kung Fu, now come full circle with a reported pilot commitment for a sequel drama at Fox. Executive producers Greg Berlanti and writer Wendy Mericle (CW series Arrow) are shepherding the new take that will bring a female Asian protagonist front and center.
The new Kung Fu follows the adventures of Lucy Chang, a Buddhist monk and kung fu master who travels through 1950s America armed only with her spiritual training and her martial arts skills as she searches for the man who stole her child years before. When she teams with JT Cullen, a charming Korean War vet with his own secrets, the two form an unlikely alliance that allows Lucy to continue her search while also coming to the aid of people in need.
The original TV series from Ed Spielman, Jerry Thorpe and Herman Miller lasted three years with actor David Carradine who continued the iconic role of Kwai Chang Caine in a feature film follow-up with Brandon Lee years later, as well as U.S./Canadian sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, with actor Chris Potter also starring. Carradine sadly passed away in 2009 at the age of 72.
Feature film efforts thereafter spanned more than a decade; Late actor/director Bill Paxton's name circled the film project 2011 before confirming his involvement in an August 2013 interview with Larry King - nearly three-and-a-half years before Paxton's passing at the age of 61. Filmmaker Baz Luhrman would enter talks to direct as well as write his own film adaptation a year later.
Berlanti Productions's own Sarah Schechter is also executive producing the new Kung Fu series for Warner Bros TV. (Deadline)
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