Honk Kong’s Donnie Yen is known worldwide for his role in the martial arts action film Ip Man. The actor-fighter is known for his exceptional skills and stunt choreography and has starred not just in Chinese films, but also in American films such as Shanghai Nights, XXX: Return of Xander Cage, and more recently in John Wick: Chapter 4.
While Yen played a blind warrior named Caine in John Wick 4, it was not the first time that he played a blind warrior in an American film. He previously starred in Gareth Edwards’ Star Wars spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in which he played Chirrut Îmwe, a warrior who is part of the Guardians of the Whills. The idea to make him blind was reportedly Yen’s.
Donnie Yen Pitched The Idea To Make His Star Wars Character Chirrut Îmwe Blind
Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a prequel to the original trilogy created by George Lucas. Focusing on a group of rebels who form the foundations of the resistance to the Empire in subsequent movies, the film was the first film of the franchise not to follow any of the Skywalkers or Han Solo. It received mostly positive reviews and earned $1.05 billion.
Along with actors such as Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, and Mads Mikkelsen, the film also featured Chinese star Donnie Yen. The actor, who is known for his role as the martial arts trainer of Bruce Lee in Ip Man, starred as Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One. Îmwe was a warrior who was part of the Guardians of the Whills and helped the protagonists.
One of the key characteristics of Chirrut Îmwe is his blindness. The skill the warrior exhibits despite his disability makes him all the more badass. Yen was reportedly the mastermind behind adding that detail to the character. He spoke about his Star Wars experience as well as his idea to make Îmwe blind to Jet Set Mag,
Honestly, I didn’t want to spend five months apart from my family, filming in London. I asked them ‘how do you feel about daddy doing Star Wars?’ and they flipped out…it was my idea to make him blind.
The actor did a similar blind but skilled assassin role in the recent John Wick: Chapter 4. He played Caine, an old comrade of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick who is blackmailed into assassinating him for the Marquis.
Donnie Yen Felt American Films Never Used Him Properly Before
Actor Donnie Yen is extremely popular in Hong Kong and has a stardom that can rival Tom Cruise’s in the industry. However, he has only now begun to be explored well in American cinema. The actor became famous worldwide for his role as the eponymous character in Ip Man and its sequels. Though he appeared in a few films, none of them were prominent.
Yen mentioned in an interview that he felt the American filmmakers at the time needed to learn how to utilize him and were not familiar with his working style. He said,
The truth is I’ve worked on American films, but 10 years ago, they really didn’t understand how to direct martial arts, nor did they get how I work. When you hire me, you’re not just getting an actor; you are getting a choreographer, a director.
The actor himself has helmed multiple Chinese films and has also produced them. He has been an action director for multiple films, including prominent films of Jet Li.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is available to stream on Disney Plus.
