Extracted from Xin MSN.

After the box-office successes of Ip Man and its 2010 sequel, filmmakers are in discussions to make the franchise a trilogy, with Taiwanese singer-songwriter Jay Chou targeted as the man to assume the highly lucrative but challenging role of Bruce Lee.

2008’s Ip Man, a semi-biographical martial arts film about the Wing Chun master of the same name, was both a commercial and critical success. Ip Man 2 was then released last month and is currently matching the box-office takings of Hollywood blockbusters like Iron Man 2 in Hong Kong.

This has prompted producers to begin planning for a third film, with intentions to bring back director Wilson Yip and producer Raymond Wong.

It is believed that Wilson has his eyes on Jay.

Kungfu star Bruce Lee is the most famous disciple of Ip Man and was slated to be featured prominently in Ip Man 2, but eventually only makes a cameo in the form of a boy.

His relationship with an aging Ip Man will now be explored in the third film instead of the second.

Whatever the plan is, things might have to go on hold though.

Raymond seems hesitant to jump onboard a new project. “I prefer to not have [a third film] this year or next. There are so many movies related to Ip Man now (there are also Wong Kar Wai’s The Grand Master and Herman Yau’s The Legend is Born: Ip Man). Let’s wait for this saturation to pass.”

Even lead actor Donnie Yen dismissed another quick sequel. “Let’s wait for the script. Also, if Jay Chou is acting as Bruce Lee, I would need half a year to train him for his kungfu to look convincing.”

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