Summary
- Bruce Lee wanted Japanese action star Shintaro Katsu to star alongside him in one of his films, but it never happened due to Katsu's contractual obligations.
- Katsu, known for his samurai films, was idolized by Lee for his fast movements and exciting on-screen choreography.
- Lee believed that a battle between him and Katsu in a film would solidify his position as a superior martial artist and take Fists of Fury to another level.
Bruce Lee wanted another popular martial arts actor to face him in one of his movies, but it never happened. The action star is known for popularizing Kung Fu in Hollywood, and his short career forever revolutionized the film world. Lee had several on-screen battles with famous martial artists over the years, many of whom were his real-world students. However, one of his idols never appeared in a Bruce Lee film, despite the actor's hope that he would one day.
Lee became well known to American audiences after his Hong Kong-produced films, The Big Boss and Fists of Fury, gained traction in the West. As the action choreographer for these films, Lee brought his unique style of martial arts, along with the classic styles of Chinese filmography, to the world, and it's clear his ideas were gold. However, the official biography, Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly, has revealed that the extent of Lee's vision for Fists of Fury was never met since his Japanese idol was unable to battle his character on screen.
Bruce Lee Wanted Shintaro Katsu To Be His Fist of Fury Co-Star
Bruce Lee: A Life reveals that while preparing for Fists of Fury, Lee desperately hoped that famed Japanese action star Shintaro Katsu would be able to the cast. Katsu was known for his samurai films, most noteworthy the Zatoichi (blind swordsman) film series that spanned between the 60s and 80s. Like Lee, he was recognized for his fast movements that made on-screen choreography exciting and full of possibilities, which is likely exactly why he was idolized and sought after by Lee.
Lee successfully arranged a meeting with Katsu in Tokyo, Japan, where he reportedly told the star that he held him "in high esteem, cinematically and otherwise.” Lee said, “I want to act with you, and I want to learn from you.” Unfortunately, Katsu was contractually bound to other projects and could not be a part of Fists of Fury or any of Lee's other films. However, he offered up other actors from his troupe, Riki Hashimoto and Jun Katsumura, both of whom were cast as villains in Fists of Fury.
Bruce Lee vs. Shintaro Katsu Would've Been One Of His Best Fights
Bruce Lee wanted Katsu in one of his films for several reasons. Of course, the Fists of Fury hero was known for combining martial arts styles from all around the world, so a samurai would have been a great fighter to learn from. Additionally, Lee held a grudge against actor Jimmy Wang Yu, who had previously starred alongside Katsu in Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman. Lee considered Jimmy to be only a pretend hero and not a serious martial artist (unlike Bruce Lee, who proved himself to be a real fighter). He believed that if he and Katsu could fight in a movie, the epically choreographed battle would officially solidify him as being several leagues above this rival.
Ultimately, Lee was probably correct. Fists of Fury is a martial arts masterpiece, but the idea of the king of kung fu facing off against a legendary samurai hero would have taken the film to another level. Lee and Katsu were both known to be able to keep up with quick choreography, and seeing this play out on screen would have made for a film full of excitement. Unfortunately, this is a fight Bruce Lee fans will never get to see.
