“The Chinese Stuntman” UK DVD Cover
Filipino martial arts instructor Dan Inosanto, who is perhaps best known for being the protege of Bruce Lee, will be the subject of an upcoming biopic that’s currently in development.
The untitled film will be based on a story by Jeremy Gough. Mark Gordon (Murder on the Orient Express) and Matt Jackson (End of Watch) will produce along with Diana Lee Inosanto (The Sensei), Inosanto’s daughter and Lee’s goddaughter.
Although the movie will most likely document Inosanto’s rise to being one of the highest authoritative figures in Jeet Kune Do and various styles of Filipino martial arts, the story will also spotlight his lesser-known successes. As THR reports, “In the mid-1970s, a conditioning coach named Dr. Bob Ward created a stealth program that involved then up-and-coming linesman Randy White, with Inosanto being the key ingredient in the training. Inosanto’s involvement is said to have been key to the Cowboys’ success on the road to the Super Bowl.”
In addition to his affiliation/training with Lee, Inosanto starred alongside Lee in 1972’s Game of Death (due to Lee’s untimely death, the film was completed in 1978 using body doubles for Lee). Other notable film appearances include The Chinese Stuntman (with Bruce Li), Out for Justice (with Steven Seagal), and David Mamet’s highly underrated Redbelt.
We’ll keep you posted on this story as more news arrives. Until then, here’s a scene from The Chinese Stuntman, featuring Insosanto, Bruce Li and the late John Ladalski:
That’s great! Dan’s life and times are most deserving of a film, and if they can explore the relationship between him and Bruce that would be great….my worry of course is the ever lovely ever helpful “Bruce Lee Estate”…
They got Dan Inosanto’s name wrong in the films credits: calling him DAM INOSANTOS 🙂