Bruce Lee's Unproduced THE SILENT FLUTE Script Will Be Developed as a Limited Series
Back in 1970, martial arts legend Bruce Lee wrote a script for a film he wanted to make titled The Silent Flute. Well, after all these years, the unproduced story will be adapted into a limited series. Jason Kothari, Hong Kong-born entrepreneur and film producer who was an executive producer on Vin Diesel’s Bloodshot, has acquired all rights to The Silent Flute, and he is developing and producing the series.
John Fusco (Marco Polo) has been hired to write and executive produce the project. The story is set in “a dystopian future after mankind has suffered from pandemics, fires and civil wars, and where all weapons and combat arts are banned. It follows a raw fighter who overcomes grave obstacles and loss to reach enlightenment and become the best fighter in the world.”
The original script for the film was a five-year collaboration between Lee and his friends and martial arts students, which included Oscar-winning writer Stirling Silliphant and Oscar-winning actor James Coburn. It’s explained that the story “encapsulated Lee’s vision for the true essence of martial arts and the meaning of life and was his boldest creative passion project.” The project remained unfinished after Lee’s death in 1973.
Kothari said in a statement, “Despite it having been untouched for half a century, ‘The Silent Flute’ conveys groundbreaking themes for today, and my ambition is to do justice to the global icon’s powerful and inspiring cinematic vision. Having closely studied his life and career, I am committed to bringing together the best talent in the world to make ‘The Silent Flute’ for millions of Lee’s fans and honor him.”
Fusco, who recently wrote The Highwaymen for Netflix, is also a black belt martial artist in three different disciplines. He studies Lee’s Jeet Kune Do philosophy under several of Lee’s former students. He said in a statement, “What Bruce wrote, along with Sterling Silliphant and my late friend James Coburn, was ahead of its time and transcends action drama in profound and provocative ways. What we hope to do is open up the canvas of his story world and honor his vision in the exciting way that epic long-form narrative can do today.”
As a longtime fan of Bruce Lee, I’m extremely excited to see that his Silent Flute story will be brought to life! I just hope that the creative team truly honors Lee’s vision.
Source: Variety