Jet Li’s 1994 film Fist Of Legend caught the attention of the Wachowskis as they were looking for someone prolific in Hong Kong action styles for The Matrix. They contacted Yuen Woo-ping, who had earlier worked with the legend Jackie Chan in Drunken Master. Yuen was initially hesitant but eventually brought his expertise into the film.
After The Matrix, Yuen returned to work on the classic Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, he was soon called back to Hollywood and it was Quentin Tarantino who needed his slick action choreography in his films, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2.
Martial Arts Legend Yuen Woo-ping Was Convinced To Do Stunt Choreography In The Matrix
Lana and Lilly Wachowski had a vision that most people couldn’t understand, when they were making their first film in The Matrix trilogy. Warner Bros. was half-minded throughout the project, but gave the promising directors full creative control over their project. The Wachowskis had a clear plan which was especially seen in the way they envisioned the action sequences in the film.
For the stunts, they wanted fast-paced martial arts combat between the actors. They were in search for the perfect stunt choreographer when they came across the film Fist Of Legend. They immediately contacted Yuen Woo-ping, who was one of the most renowned names in martial arts choreography. However, he wasn’t interested in taking on an English project. He shared (via South China Morning Post):
I’d already been asked to work in Hollywood a couple of times, and I’d said no. I didn’t feel that my English was good enough to work there.
However, the Wachowskis was very convincing in the way they presented The Matrix. In a making video of the film, Yuen recalled that he got a call from the directors when he was filming a movie in Beijing. He told them that he couldn’t commit to the film as he was busy. However, the Wachowskis sent him the script of the film.
Unlike others who couldn’t see the directors’ vision, Yuen understood their script and thought that it was brilliant. Yuen shared in the making video:
I really don’t know how they got my number… [I] got a call from Hong Kong saying that these two brothers were really interested in talking to [me]. I said I’m very busy, I don’t have the time. The call came again and I read the script. I thought that script was a very brilliant script and so I decided that I should do it.
Yuen also brought with him his expertise in wire work, where the actors were suspended from thin cables during their action scenes. All actors including Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving were required to perform their own stunts and underwent six months of training under Yuen’s supervision.
Yuen Woo-ping Went On To Work With Quentin Tarantino
After his revolutionary work in The Matrix, he did the Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which introduced wuxia to the world. He was hired again in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino to choreograph the action sequences in his two-part revenge thriller Kill Bill.
Yuen went on to choreograph some defining fight sequences in the movie. The complex and ambitious fight sequences again required extensive training for the lead actress Uma Thurman and the other supporting cast. After his film with Tarantino, the Wachowskis wanted him back for The Matrix sequels which were shot back to back.
Yuen has also worked on kung fu classic films like The Magnificent Butcher, Tiger Cage 2, Iron Monkey, and Kung Fu Hustle.
The Matrix films are now available for rent on AppleTV+, while Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 are available on Starz.
