"Special ID" Poster
Twitch reports that Donnie Yen held a press conference in Beijing yesterday to announce his latest film, titled Special Identity. The movie is a rip-roaring action yarn set in modern times and pits Donnie Yen against a formidable opponent in Vincent Zhao, the martial artist/actor famous for turns in True Legend and The Blade.
The project will be directed by Clarence Fok, who directed the original The Iceman Cometh that Donnie Yen happens to be remaking. He also helmed the classic Category III flick Naked Killer and the underrated 1998 film Cheap Killers.
The cinematographer on Special Identity is Peter Pau, a legend in his own right, having served as director of photography on films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Bride With White Hair.
At the conference, Donnie Yen promised some “great action scenes” between himself and Vincent Zhao, while Zhao said to look forward to some epic car chases. The car stunts on Special Identity are being handled by Hong Kong luminary Bruce Law, who has films like The Beast Stalker and Flash Point to his credit, and is also handling the car work on Jackie Chan’s upcoming farewell to action, Chinese Zodiac. Special Identity is scheduled to release in China in November.
Update: Beyond Hollywood has some behind the scenes photos of the film, including one which looks like it depicts a massive Triad gangwar.
Twitch has some shocking news: Vincent Zhao has dropped out of Special Identity. Andy On (Black Mask 2, King of Triads) has been cast to replace Vincent Zhao. Beyond Hollywood has the word on Zhao’s departure straight from Donnie Yen. Jaynestars.com posted a new, interesting article that has Vincent Zhao blasting Donnie Yen’s domineering ways. HKtop10 has the latest on the Donnie Yen and Vincent Zhao fiasco.
HKtop10 has posted stills from the Special Identity. Mtime.com reports that Flash Point’s Collin Chou has joined the Special Identity cast. | HKtop10 reports that Mainland director Tan Bing (who was originally going to direct Special Identity back when it was still known as The Ultimate Codebreak) held a press conference and made several accusations against Donnie Yen. | Asian Movie Pulse has more on the issue, with claims that Donnie Yen may be taking Vincent Zhao to court.
Via Twitch, Donnie Yen’s official website has a gallery of pictures, including many behind-the-scenes photos and action shots from Special Identity. The film is currently in post-production and should be on track for a November release date.
Andy On speaks! In a new interview, the veteran martial artist/actor stays pretty quiet about the Donnie/Vincent feud but lets it slip that he and Donnie share a 10 minute fight scene in the film. In fact, Andy makes it sound like he and Donnie went ‘full contact’ for their fight – and we believe him! Thanks to Martial Arts Action Cinema for the story.
When Andy On signed on to Special Identity to replace Vincent Zhao, most fans assumed that the film’s ‘final fight’ would be a bout between Donnie and Andy – especially when Andy revealed he has a 10 minute fight scene with Donnie in the movie. Well, new details have surfaced and it turns out Special Identity‘s climactic showdown will be between Donnie Yen and Collin Chou. What do you folks think: can these two martial arts stars possibly top their incredible battle at the end of 2007′s Flash Point?
BREAKING NEWS: Don’t miss the new poster for the film, which suggests the movie may be released under the title Special ID.
Guess there won’t be a fight between both Beggar Sus.don’t like Andy On don’t know why.
Andy On can’t fight like Vincent Zhao.. bleh
I agree. I mean, Andy On had some pretty slick moves in “Bad Blood”/”King of Triads” but he just doesn’t have the screen presence of someone like Vincent Zhao. Zhao commands the screen, Andy On is just kind of ‘there.’
I know right? Now im not really looking for this movie as before.
Lesson of the day: don’t be taller than Donnie Yen if you want to star alongside him! Ha. Just kidding, I don’t think Yen is that conceited. It just sounds like everyone involved in this movie – the stars, producers, film crew – all had varying egos and agendas. Vincent Zhao seems kinda fed up with that Hong Kong style of filmmaking, where the script is never really set in stone. He should try to learn a little English and make a break for Hollywood while he can.
According to Brett Rattner,Zhao was supposed to be the villian in Rush Hour 3,but couldn’t make it due to scheduling.
And according to hkcinemagic.com Wu jing’s picture is put there instead of Andy On
Wu-jing was better choice instead of andy on.
Let me disagree. Wu Jing looks too Beijing-school-trained, he lacks flexibility.
Is donnie hollywood poisoned, I mean can’t he leave hong kong and do a hollywood movie while he still young
I guess, it is even better that Zhao left the project. he is too …self-possessed. Andy is younger, not fed with his screen glory. it means he is more modest, and he is younger as well. So I guess, being more flexible he made up a good partnership with Donnie, and it was first of all easier for Donnie to work with him, they have already collaborated in the Lost Bladesman. Moreover, if we know that Donnie action-choreographed the movie himself – so what’s the point in saying that Andy is not as good as Zhao? Donnie Yen will make everything look as cool as possible. Let’s give Andy a chance.
I agree with your sentiments. The only thing I would say is that, yes, we have seen Donnie and Andy fight before. And it was a great battle in The Lost Bladesman but the prospect of Donnie fighting someone he has never faced before onscreen – Vincent Zhao – was more exciting. Unfortunately, it seems that it was not meant to be.
well, let’s see what we will get. I still think Andy is a decent variant… At the end of the day it was DONNIE who picked him. the only thing which troubles me is…WHEN the movie will be released?!
Good question! We haven’t heard anything about the movie since September ’12…filming has been completed since at least then and Donnie is already shooting his next movie. I don’t know why there would be such a lengthy post-production process, but maybe the studio is just waiting for The Grandmasters and CZ12 to leave the theater.
and I’ve heard the rumors that the mighty people standing behind Zhao team are working hard to suspend the movie… but I think, it is unlikely))))
A staff member involved in the production revealed that Special Identity is now in post-production. This means a release in Q1 or Q2 this year.
I was looking forward to see Yen and Zhao go at it, but after Zhao dropped out, my excitement went down the drain lol. As for another battle between Chou and Yen, I don’t want to see. The Flash Point fight wasn’t all that great. Maybe Donnie should try to do a different film with Vincent Zhao in the future. Have anyone seen the Korean historical drama Queen Seondeok? Uhm Tae-woong who plays Kim Yu-shin from that show resembles Vincent Zhao quite a bit, and Kim Nam-gil who plays Bidam look a lot like Donnie Yen. The resemblance is undeniable.
The last update is actually an April joke
Thanks DiP for the heads up. =D April Fools jokes really screw the internet up. As if we already don’t have enough rumors!