Jason Scott Lee trained with Bruce Lee’s student for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Jason Scott Lee trained with Bruce Lee's student for Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a biopic about martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. The story follows Lee after his move from Hong Kong to the US and includes his time as a Hollywood actor. It is dedicated to his career as a martial arts teacher, as well as his hobbies in television and film. The film also explores Lee’s relationship with his wife Linda Lee Cadwell and the racism the actor was subjected to during his appearance and throughout his life. The writers took material from Cadwell’s book Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew. They also used material from Robert Klaus’ book Bruce Lee: A Biography.

In addition, director Rob Cohen used an interview with Cadwell as well as an interview with her son Brandon Lee. Instead of sticking to the rigidity of the biopic, Cohen added elements of dramatization and mysticism to put it on par with the films Lee starred in. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising Scott Lee’s performance as Lee. It was also a commercial hit, earning $63.5 million on a $16 million budget. Jason Scott Lee was cast in the Bruce Lee film after being recommended by the casting director for The Last of the Mohicans.

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)

He didn’t get the part because they didn’t think he looked like a Native American. But this led to his casting in a biopic. According to the Los Angeles Times, Jason Scott Lee had no prior combat training when he took the job. However, he was a natural athlete and trained with Jerry Potit, Lee’s former student. Potit explained, “I trained Jason the same way Bruce trained me.” According to the publication, this included a strict regimen. He taught Jason Scott Lee blocking, kicking and punching Jeet Kune Do. Potit praised Jason Scott Lee’s ability to understand Bruce Lee’s teachings, calling him a “quick learner”.

The actor’s co-star John Cheng, who played his on-screen rival and was the film’s stunt coordinator, also praised Scott Lee’s martial arts abilities. Bruce Lee’s son Brandon Lee was the first actor considered for the role. Not only was he of the right age, but he also had the appropriate training in martial arts – all in addition to his attitude towards the subject. At that time, Brandon Lee was pursuing his own acting career. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Brandon turned down the role. He felt that it would be too weird to play his father, especially in a film about his parents’ romantic life. Brandon said, “If it happened later in my career, I might think about it more seriously.”