Dennis To Returns as Wing Chun Master in ‘Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend’ (EXCLUSIVE)

All Rights Entertainment is set to expand the iconic martial arts franchise with “Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend,” with Dennis To reprising his role as the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster who trained Bruce Lee, it was revealed at the Cannes Film Market.

The film follows 2021’s “Ip Man: Kung Fu Master,” which also starred To and gained international recognition for its fresh perspective on the martial arts icon. Beijing Huiyong Film and Television Media Co. is producing the project in partnership with Oscar-nominated U.S. distributor Well Go, known for delivering premium action, genre and independent films to North American audiences.

Currently in production, “Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend” is expected to complete filming in the third quarter, with Well Go handling North American distribution across multiple platforms. The release strategy aims to showcase the film’s high-energy action sequences and cultural importance.

All Rights Entertainment, which previously managed global distribution for “Ip Man: Kung Fu Master,” will oversee international sales for the new installment.

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 Japanese occupation, Hong Kong’s post-war years, and the shifting tides of Chinese identity. Spanning four main installments and multiple spin-offs — 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 Dennis To carve a more traditionalist path through the martial arts biopic space, spotlighting a younger, humbler version of the Wing Chun master. First introduced in “The Legend Is Born: Ip Man” (2010), To reprised the role in “Ip Man: The Awakening” (2022) and “Ip Man: Kung Fu Master” (2019).