New Bruce Lee biopic planned

A biopic of martial arts legend Bruce Lee is in the works.

'Birth of the Dragon' is intended to tell the 'origin story' of movie star Lee, and is inspired by the real-life duel between him and Wong Jack Man, China's most famous kung fu master.

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A no-rules fight between the pair took place in San Francisco's Chinatown in 1965, when the area was controlled by Triad gangs.

It's being written by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele, both specialists in the biopic field.

Their previous efforts have included Oliver Stone's 1995 film 'Nixon', in which Anthony Hopkins played the disgraced former president.

The pair also wrote Michael Mann's 'Ali', with Will Smith as Muhammad Ali, and also 'Mercury', the forthcoming film based on the life of Freddie Mercury, with Sacha Baron Cohen playing the flamboyant Queen frontman.

“Stephen Rivele and Chris Wilkinson have taken a little-known chapter in the life of Bruce Lee and used it as a jumping-off point for a bold, exciting story about the making of an international legend,” said producer Michael London.

It's thought the action will then feature Wong and Lee teaming up to battle with local gangsters.