Donnie Yen, undoubtedly one of the biggest stars to bridge eastern and western film-making with roles on both sides of the camera, will soon be working on a major international production entitled Golden Empire. Industry site Deadline reports that Yen will both co-produce the English-language film to be shot in the United States and play a ‘notorious drug kingpin who hits the top of the most wanted list for both the U.S. and Mexican governments’ but also look at the psychological effects it has on running such an enterprise.
Co-producer Peter Luo said that it was Yen’s gangland role in Chasing the Dragon (2017) that made him feel the actor was the right person for the role.
Yen, of course, has been building up an impressive body of work both in domestic and international territories over the last two decades. After establishing himself on an eastern platform, his first western project was Highlander: Endgame and in the years that followed his star has grown brighter with many projects, including the likes of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Iceman, Bodyguards and Assassins, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage and the upcoming Mulan (currently set for an August release, depending on the pandemic situation) as well as a huge commitment to the much-acclaimed Ip Man franchise.
