Internationally renowned kung fu megastar Donnie Yen takes on a new role in "The Prosecutor," an innovative blend of procedural drama and high-energy action. Based on a true legal case, the film sees Yen fulfilling the roles of star, executive producer and director.

A still from "The Prosecutor." [Photo courtesy of Huace Pictures]

The film follows Fok Chi Ho, a shrewd prosecutor played by Donnie Yen, as he takes on the case of a young man framed for drug trafficking and pressured into a dubious plea deal. Convinced of the young man's innocence, Fok uncovers a deep-rooted conspiracy that stretches from a notorious crime syndicate to the city's halls of power. In order to expose the truth and bring the real perpetrator to justice, Fok risks his life and career to exonerate the wrongfully charged man. 

The cast also includes Julian Cheung, Michael Hui, Francis Ng and MC Cheung Tin-fu.

While legal dramas are common, "The Prosecutor" stands out with having Yen's involvement. The role of the Hong Kong prosecutor was written with a strong backstory, presenting Fok as a former police special forces operator to justify the character's exceptional martial arts skills, aligning perfectly with Yen's expertise and contributing to the inclusion of several adrenaline-pumping action scenes that are likely to leave a lasting legacy in kung fu cinema history.

When first presented with this project's screenplay by fellow filmmaker and producer Raymond Wong, a longtime collaborator on the classic kung fu franchise "Ip Man," Yen was hesitant to join. He felt unfamiliar with the law-and-order genre and doubted he could do justice to a story about a miscarriage of justice based on a true legal case in Hong Kong. Yen first turned the offer down. However, after Wong's persistent persuasion over two months, he eventually agreed.

A still from "The Prosecutor." [Photo courtesy of Huace Pictures]

At the film's premiere in Beijing on Dec. 15, Yen explained that he finally agreed to join the project because he felt action films were often pigeonholed. He hopes this film will show audiences that action films have more possibilities than typically assumed. Yen also noted that actors in action films are often perceived in a certain way. "I've always pushed myself to break free from those labels, and I hope this opportunity will allow the audience to see another side of me," he added.

Yen also felt it was his responsibility to revive Hong Kong cinema. "In recent years, the mood surrounding Hong Kong films has been somewhat disappointing. I hope that through this film, the audience can see that we are a group of filmmakers working hard to bring something new."

With 42 years in the film industry, including contributing to many action films, Yen has achieved exceptional success as a kung fu movie star and producer. However, directing is a rare role for him. With "The Prosecutor," Yen wore three hats — star, director and producer —, working closely with the cast and crew to dive deep into the filmmaking process for over a year.

"From the beginning, I told everyone that this genre has been explored many times, both in TV series and movies. Recently, director Zhang Yimou also made a similar film called 'Article 20,' so we wanted to tell this story using a different approach and a fresh perspective," Yen explained, also emphasizing that they wanted to deliver a message of justice. "Sometimes we, as humans, misjudge. I want the audience, after watching this film, to return to an original sense of justice, reigniting a fire in their hearts."

Cast and crew pose for a photo at the premiere of "The Prosecutor" in Beijing, Dec. 15, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Wishart Communication]

With an official release date scheduled for Dec. 27 on the Chinese mainland and Dec. 21 in Hong Kong, this legal action thriller has already generated rave reviews and created a buzz online, drawing moviegoers to cinemas for advance screenings. By Monday, the film had grossed over 60 million yuan from advanced screenings and ticket pre-sales. Besides being released in the Chinese film market, "The Prosecutor" has been acquired for the North American market by Well Go USA and will be screened in theaters across North America on Jan. 10, 2025.

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