Donnie Yen Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ
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Published 2023-02-28
Director: Christopher Smith
Director of Photography: Barry Chung
Editor(s): Matthew Braunsdorf
Celebrity Talent: Donnie Yen
Producer: Kristen Rakes
Line Producer: Jen Santos
Production Manager: James Pipitone
Production Coordinator: Jamal Colvin
Casting Producer or Talent Booker: Dana Mathews
Local Producer: Roxanne Hui
Audio: Eric Leung
Camera B: Chiu Yan Kin
Lighting Assistant: Yuen Chi Tim
Production Assistant(s): Neo Ng
Post Production Supervisor: Rachael Knight
Post Production Coordinator:
Supervising Editor: Rob Lombardi
Assistant Editor: Diego Rentsch Billy Ward
00:00 "Am I too damn old to take that role?"
00:33 Rogue One
02:13 Once Upon a Time in China II
06:48 The Ip Man Series
11:39 Hero
14:21 Wing Chun
16:36 xXx: Return of Xander Cage
18:05 Sakra
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All Comments (21)
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"Knocking me out is fine but... I gotta finish the movie right?" -Donnie Yen What a legend.
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Can we just appreciate how Donnie Yen is 59 and he still looks like he's 30.
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Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen are living legends and when they get together is just cinema magic
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He was badass in John Wick 4. So glad he is getting more popular now. Hopefully can be in more movies and doesn't let age slow him down.
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I don't know anyone who would think that Donnie Yen is too "old" for any role, let alone an action role. This dude is legendary in my book.
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Can we just appreciate for a second how big deal it is that these kinds of videos are finally happening with international stars too?
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I love how Donnie Yen, even when playing an almost stereotypical character, still wants to bring originality to the role. Playing a blind Asian martial arts master, but asking “can we give him a sense of humor?” He gives every character he plays a sense of humor, charm and likability. To spite being a larger than life character and martial arts master, he makes the characters he plays relatable, and that is why he’s a legend.
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And now he just got even more iconic in John Wick 4. I loved him in every single scene he was in.
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I grew up on Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Donnie Yen. These legends will never be replaced.
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You can tell he's the kind of actor that really cares about the art. True artist.
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I love Donnie Yen. Basically, “If Mike Tyson knocks me out, cool whatever. But I need to finish this movie on schedule 😂”
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Jet Li nearly blinded him twice and Donnie Yen goes on to play two blind characters! 😆
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Can we appreciate how Donnie created most of his great movies without CGI.
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His performance in Rogue One is fantastic
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Hearing that Donnie Yen was not only an action/martial art actor, but a choreographer, and director really makes sense as to why he ends throwing out so many ideas and wants to do so much on a film. Because he's trained and experienced now many people in Hollywood wouldn't appreciate that level of commitment to look at a scene about to be shot and go ok this is your equipment you it shot like this but if we tweaked it like we see so much more. Very cool seeing this interview.
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"my blood spilling like kill bill" should be an established term. What a legend Mr. Yen
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His fight scenes with Jet Li were so amazing. The one in Hero is still one of my all-time favorites to this day. Thank goodness he wasn't blinded by either of those scenes.
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His character was one of the things I enjoyed most in Rogue One. Loved hearing him describe how he actually gave the character that sense of humor, and the blindness aspect!
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Love that he mentioned that he's a fan of Tyson. I can really see his inspiration now in the character he plays in Flashpoint.
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He was amazing in John Wick 4 too, great actor.
