Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American rights to IP MAN and IP MAN 2. Both films are directed by Wilson Yip and star Donnie Yen with action choreography by Sammo Hung. The films team-up Yip, Yen, and Hung who previously worked together on Kill Zone. Yip and Yen also worked together on Flash Point and Dragon Tiger Gate. Donnie Yen is currently Hong Kong ’s biggest action star gaining international recognition as the most diverse martial artist in the world.
IP MAN is a biopic based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun, and the first person to teach Wing Chun openly. He was also teacher and mentor to widely influential and acclaimed martial artist and filmmaker Bruce Lee.
“IP MAN is an amazing story and the film has had such a phenomenal response overseas from critics and audiences alike that I am so proud to be able to bring it to the American audience,” said Well Go President of Home Entertainment, Doris Pfardrescher. “This acquisition is a big move forward for Well Go USA especially as the popularity of Asian cinema continues to grow in North America .”
Released theatrically in Asia in December 2008, IP MAN is considered to be one of the greatest martial arts movies of the past decade. Grossing over $21 million in Asia box office, the critically-acclaimed film has been nominated for numerous awards including an unprecedented 12 Hong Kong Film Award nominations, winning Best Film and Best Action Choreography. IP MAN premiered in North America at the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival and was the opening feature at 2009 Fantasia International Film Festival. IP MAN 2 will have its much-anticipated theatrical release in Asia on April 29, 2010 and its North American premiere at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival in June.
IP MAN is set to release on DVD July 27, 2010.Well Go plans on a releasing IP MAN 2 theatrically in early 2011.