“The Silent Flute” Theatrical Poster
Valiant Entertainment’s Jason Kothari (Bloodshot) has acquired rights to Bruce Lee’s original screenplay for The Silent Flute, which will be adapted into a special limited series by writer John Fusco (Marco Polo, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny).
“As a lifelong martial artist and practitioner of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, the chance to help bring his personal opus to life is an honor and privilege. What Bruce wrote, along with Sterling Silliphant and my late friend James Coburn, was ahead of its time and transcends action drama in profound and provocative ways. What we hope to do is open up the canvas of his story world and honor his vision in the exciting way that epic long-form narrative can do today,” Fusco said (via Yahoo).
The idea of The Silent Flute was originally conceived by Bruce Lee, James Coburn and Stirling Silliphant in 1969; it was also to be Lee’s first Hollywood production. The project was ultimately scrapped and Lee’s Hollywood debut became Enter the Dragon. 4 years after Lee’s death, Silliphant brought The Silent Flute back from the dead in the form of 1978’s Circle of Iron, with David Carradine filling in for Lee. Due to drastic story changes and the obvious absence of its intended star, Circle of Iron’s critical reception was mostly lukewarm; however, the film does hold a cult status amongst movie fans around the world.
Here’s Lee’s preface from his original script: The story illustrates a great difference between Oriental and Western thinking. This average Westerner would be intrigued by someone’s ability to catch flies with chopsticks, and would probably say that has nothing to do with how good he is in combat. But the Oriental would realize that a man who has attained such complete mastery of an art reveals his presence of mind in every action… True mastery transcends any particular art (via Flixist).
At one point, The Silent Flute was going to be made into a $25 million action fantasy that would be set in a post-apocalyptic future in which a seeker embarks on a hero’s journey to a city which may have survived the apocalypse.” Additionally, former MMA fighter Gina Carano (Kickboxer: Vengeance, The Mandalorian) was once attached to the remake as a character named Tara.
We’ll keep you updated on The Silent Flute as more updates come. Stay tuned!
Damn, this has me really curious to see “Circle of Iron” now. Had no idea that it was based on an idea by Bruce Lee. I think it was put out on Blu-ray not long ago.
I know it is on DVD as I am watching it now. If you are interested in oriental philisophy I highly recommend this movie to you.
I think Fist of the North Star already beat ’em to it. 🙂
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i made a video after watching bruce on enter the dragon and i made so many workout videos it would mean alot if anyone who is reading this would subcribe to my videos and comment on my videos i would love to know what u all think of my workout even tho i have cerably palsy and seizures
Looks like it’s going to be produced in the world’s largest virtual studio in Tianjin eco-city, China.
i like this article and i especially like this part “This average Westerner would be intrigued by someone’s ability to catch flies with chopsticks, and would probably say that has nothing to do with how good he is in combat. But the Oriental would realize that a man who has attained such complete mastery of an art reveals his presence of mind in every action… True mastery transcends any particular art.”
absolutely true, westerners lack the wisdom and understanding of what it represents, they simply just see a guy catching a fly with a chopstick lol.. a eastern oriental guy would know this was a genius at work….. there are sooooo many things in the western world people dont understand and realise……… chinese people can sure learn from the western world how to let their hair down and have fun…. but there is so much treasure in the oriental way of life, westerners are too blind to see. until now…. now is the time when east will be combining with west… i can assure you any asian guy brought up in the west, has a major advantage over anybody.. if they choose to use their knowlege and respect both cultures……
Crap…
Circle of Iron has been one of my all time fav movies of all my life. I was born in 1960 and Harold and Maude is my other all time fav. They are both cult classics of the time… even with the man who played cord not being able to act. I even married a man who looked like David Caradine. Lol has the remake come out? Anyone willing to give me a run down on it?
Don’t watch this movie for the martial arts or the acting. Watch it for the Tao philosophy.
“Tie two birds together
though they have four wings
they cannot fly”
“Each moment that passes changes you
you can not possess even yourself.
How then, can you hope to possess anyone or anything else.”
The Blind Man
Ok so it is now 2017 is there any word as of wether or not the remake was ever or will ever be made? I am a huge Bruce Lee fan and this question has been eating at me. So ,,, Anybody?
It’s in development hell. The Lee Estate has put their attention on other projects, such as this and this.
anyone know what happened to the remake Bey Logan was supposed to be financing some years ago?
https://variety.com/2010/film/news/bruce-lee-s-flute-heads-to-bigscreen-1118017805/
I suspect Paul Maslansky watched ‘Shadowguard’ and decided it was a bad idea.