#807 Flowing with Daniel Wu
This week on the Bruce Lee Podcast, Shannon sat down with the incredibly talented and versatile Daniel Wu. A self-proclaimed “maker”, Daniel creates and crafts as an actor, director, producer, designer, race car driver and so much more! In 2022, he received the Bruce Lee Award, presented annually by the Asian World Film Festival and the Bruce Lee Foundation to individuals in the film industry whose work in martial arts creates a legacy of excellence and bridges East and West.
Over the past few years, Shannon has had the privilege of getting to know Dan not just as an artist, but as a friend, and deeply admires his passion, versatility, and curiosity. His latest film, Love Hurts, starring Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, hits theaters on February 7.
Get to know Daniel Wu
Daniel Wu
Daniel Wu is an American actor, director and producer.
Wu will next be seen in Universal Pictures’ action-comedy film “Love Hurts,” starring opposite Ke Huy Quan and Ariana Debose. The film follows a realtor (Quan) who is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime (Debose) resurfaces, and with his crime-lord brother (Wu) also on his trail, he must confront his pass and the history he never fully buried. The film will be released in theaters on February 7, 2025.
In May 2023, Wu starred in the Disney+ limited series, “American Born Chinese” based on the award-winning graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. Wu starred as Sun Wukong, better known as The Monkey King, a mythological and all-powerful god who journeys into our world in a pursuit to find his son.
Recently, Wu starred in the box office hit “Caught in Time” (2020), as well as appearing in Lisa Joy’s feature directorial debut, romantic sci-fi noir thriller “Reminiscence” (2021), and the HBO series, “Westworld” (2022). He was the 2022 recipient of The Bruce Lee Award, presented each year by AWFF and the Bruce Lee Foundation to an individual in the film industry whose efforts in the field of martial arts have created a legacy of excellence.
Wu started his career in Hong Kong when he landed his very first professional role in 1998 in a trio of Chinese-language features, most notably in “City of Glass” (Boli zhi cheng), for which he earned the first of four Hong Kong Film Award nominations, as Best New Performer. Since, he has been featured in over sixty films, with his breakout role in Benny Chan’s “Gen-X Cops” (1999). He received two more Hong Kong Film Award nominations in 2005, for Best Actor in “One Night in Mongkok” (Wong gok hak yau) and Best Supporting Actor (alongside boyhood idol Chan) in “New Police Story” (San ging caat goo si), a role that also brought him Taiwan’s Golden Horse Award as Best Supporting Actor. He won the prestigious Hong Kong prize as Best Director for his 2006 feature, “The Heavenly Kings” (Sei dai tinwong).
In addition to his work in front of the camera and as a director, Wu has produced several projects, including “Night Corridor,” “Like A Dream,” “The Heavenly Kings,” “Tai Chi Zero” and “Control.”
His string of international film hits includes “Night Corridor” (2003, Best Actor nomination at Taiwan’s 40th Golden Horse Awards), Frank Coraci’s 2004 remake of “Around the World in 80 Days” (again appearing with Chan), “Blood Brothers” (2007), “Overheard” (2009), “Overheard 2” (2011), “Overheard 3” (2014), “Like A Dream” ( Ru meng, 2009, Golden Horse Award nomination), Quentin Tarantino’s presentation of “The Man with the Iron Fists” (2012), “Europa Report” (2013), Jackie Chan’s “Chinese Zodiac” (2012), China’s submission to the 88th Academy Awards “Go Away Mr. Tumor,” Duncan Jones’ adaptation of the renowned iconic video game, “Warcraft” (2016), “Geostorm” (2017), as well as the remake of “Tomb Raider” (2018). He also starred and executive produced the AMC TV show “Into the Badlands” (2015-2019).
Wu holds a degree in architecture and has a brand design innovation lab business, Zuhaus. He is passionate about cars and racing and has a streetwear brand, Student Driver, in partnership with fellow actor and car enthusiast Sung Kang.
He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Follow Daniel Wu:
Instagram: @ThatDanielWu
Check out Sung Kang & Daniel Wu’s streetwear brand, Student Driver:
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