Donnie Yen’s English-language ‘Noodle Man’ cooks in July!

“Flash Point” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Don’t let the silly title fool you: an upcoming film called Noodle Man might just represent Donnie Yen’s return to Hollywood cinema. Action fans are more than likely aware that Donnie made inroads into the American movie industry back in the early 2000’s, lending his talent as an action choreographer to pictures such as 2000’s Highlander: Endgame and 2002’s Blade II.

Yen also served as a supporting actor in those films, as well as a few others such as Shanghai Knights, before he returned to his roots and re-ignited his Hong Kong acting career with 2005’s S.P.L. (AKA Kill Zone). With Yen more popular than ever as both a performer and action director, many American fans have asked the question: will Donnie Yen ever return to Hollywood before he becomes too old to be a viable screen star?

With Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend revealed to be an English-language production, as well as premiering straight to Netflix, the answer appeared to be “yeah, sort of.” But now Hollywood Reporter is reporting on a new Hollywood film called Noodle Man. The movie is set to arrive from actor-turned-director Daming Chen, who helmed the 2011 Chinese remake of What Women Want, and will star Yen in the role of a former Chinese cop who retires to New York City and opens his own noodle shop after his partner is murdered. Fifteen years later, the very same same drug kingpin who killed Yen’s partner walks into his Chinatown noodle shop…and the quest for revenge begins.

Updates: Sources say the Noodle Man may start shooting in 2015, and Robert De Niro (Goodfellas) and Al Pacino (The Godfather) are attached as co-stars. | According to imdb.com (which is hit or miss), Michelle Yeoh is rumored to have a role.

BREAKING NEWS: According to HK Top Ten (via DiP), Noodle Man starts shooting in July, after production wraps on Ip Man 3.