Apple Daily, a Hong Kong tabloid, seems to have generated a massive amount of internet traffic after running a story which suggested that martial-arts legend Donnie Yen has been officially signed-up for the next Star Wars film: The Force Awakens. The story claims that several eastern names were in the running for the secret role, actors including Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Wang Leehom, Chang Chen, Daniel Wu and Stephen Chow but that the role secretly went to Yen a month ago because of his high profile and back catalogue of successful projects. The paper claims - somewhat bizarrely - that yen will play a 'Chinese Jedi' who becomes an ally of Harrison Ford's Han Solo and will begin shooting those scenes shortly in London.
While it's always possible there could be some truth to the story - after all, actors/martial-artists such as Ray Park (as Darth Maul) had key roles in the prequels - there seems very little definitive proof of the casting beyond widely-circulating rumours that have gathered traction - but all merely quoting the original tabloid report. At this point it feels more like the kind of reports that spring up in click-baiting UK tabloids that cite 'sources close to...' when in reality the stories have been patched together from very initial negotiations or internet bulletin boards and wish-lists.
Impact has not been able to establish a single concrete source for the specific claim at this point. As much of the casting for The Force Awakens has long since been established and much of the film already shot, ready for the December 2015 release, it all seems unlikely. But one wonders if Yen might yet be one of many people possibly in the frame for one of the further Star Wars chapters promised from Lucasfilm and which are in much earlier stages of production. We would - of course - feel that Yen's participation and talents in such would be a solid and capable addition to the Star Wars universe... should that happen.
We'll be keeping our eyes and ears open for anything official and to see of all the rumours... whether the Force is strong in this one.
