All Rights Entertainment has secured distribution for “Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend” across several territories ahead of the Cannes Film Market, with Well Go USA set to release the martial arts sequel in North America on July 14.
Key territorial sales include German-speaking territories with Splendid Film; Italy and the UK with Plaion Pictures; Latin America with A2 Distribuidora de Filmes; Middle East and North Africa with Phars Filmco; Turkey with Chantier Films; Russia and CIS with Exponenta; Indonesia with Cinema 21; Korea with Entermode Corp.; and India and the Indian subcontinent with MVP. Negotiations are nearing completion for additional territories, including France and French-speaking Africa.
The project marks director Li Liming’s return after helming the previous installment. Dennis To reprises his role as Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, who trained Bruce Lee, a character he has portrayed multiple times including in Herman Yau’s “Ip Man: The Legend Is Born” and Jeffrey Lau’s “Kung Fu League.” To trained under Ip Man’s son.
Well Go USA serves as co-producer alongside Chinese companies Beijing Huiyong Film & Television Media Co. and Dongyang Square Media Co. along with All Rights Entertainment.
The cast also features Zhou Xiaofei, who appeared in Wong Kar Wai’s “The Grandmaster,” “The Karate Kid” and “Ip Man 4: The Finale,” along with Steven Dasz from “Chinese Zodiac,” “Man of Tai Chi” and “The Wandering Earth 3.” Zhang Tingfei, known for Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home” and “The Listener,” rounds out the ensemble.
Sun Fei choreographed the action sequences, bringing experience from “Warriors of Heaven and Earth,” Feng Xiaogang’s “The Banquet” and “Ip Man: Kung Fu Master.”
Market screenings of the newly completed English-language version are scheduled for May 13 and May 14 during the Cannes Film Market.
The Paris, Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based sales company continues to build international momentum for the “Ip Man” spinoff franchise, which resonates strongly with audiences worldwide.
The original “Ip Man” franchise, fronted by Donnie Yen, has become one of the most iconic martial arts film series of the 21st century. Launching in 2008 with Wilson Yip’s breakout hit “Ip Man,” the saga blends stylized action with historical drama, tracing its hero’s moral journey through occupation Japanese, Hong Kong’s post-war years and the shifting tides of Chinese identity. Spanning four main installments and multiple spinoffs — including “Ip Man: The Final Fight” and “Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy” — the franchise has punched its way to both critical acclaim and global box office success, elevating Yen to international stardom and revitalizing the kung fu genre for a new generation.
The spinoff “Ip Man” films starring To carve a more traditionalist path through the martial arts biopic space, spotlighting a younger, humbler version of the Wing Chun master.
