Enter the Dragon has been rumored to be remade several times over the years, but the planned comedic version from an Oscar-winning filmmaker is one of the most surprising attempts. Enter the Dragon is considered one of the greatest action movies of all time and a big part of cementing Bruce Lee’s legacy in Hollywood. Lee stars as a Shaolin martial artist who infiltrates a fighting tournament on a secluded island being hosted by a notorious crime lord.

Decades after its release, Enter the Dragon is still viewed as a classic and is one of the rare iconic movies that has yet to receive a remake. Of course, this is not for lack of trying, as Hollywood has attempted several approaches to retelling the movie, only for each project to fall apart. However, one of the productions that nearly happened saw a surprising collection of talent behind the scenes as well as an approach that likely would have angered a lot of fans had it actually happened.

Spike Lee Was Set To Direct An Enter The Dragon Remake With Ken Jeong Starring

The Comedic Remake Would Have Been A Mistake

In 2014, Spike Lee was hired to direct a remake of Enter the Dragon that would have starred comedic actor Ken Jeong. At the time of the announcement, Lee was already an iconic filmmaker, having made such classics as Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X while also finding box office success with his heist movie Inside Man, starring Denzel Washington. Meanwhile, Jeong was known largely for his comedic roles, like his scene-stealing roles in Knocked Up and The Hangover, as well as his beloved role as Ben Chang in the sitcom Community (via Collider).

The movie was said to follow a similar plot, but would embrace Jeong’s comedic style rather than making him a traditional action hero like Lee’s character in the original Enter the Dragon. The movie was also far enough along for Billy Bob Thornton to reportedly be hired to play Roper in the movie. Apparently, it was the reception of another remake, Lee’s take on the Korean thriller Oldboy, that led to the project falling apart. Oldboy was criticized for missing the mark of the original’s dark revenge tale, while Lee’s action filmmaking skills were also viewed as lackluster.

In the end, it is a good thing for everyone involved that this misguided remake of Enter the Dragon didn’t happen. The movie is considered a classic, and toying with its legacy in such a way would have been a mistake. While it would have been a big boost for Jeong’s acting career, it is unlikely he would have been warmly received for a comedic take on Bruce Lee. Spike Lee, on the other hand, moved on to much more interesting projects, eventually leading to his first Oscar win for BlacKkKlansman.

There Were Other Enter The Dragon Remake Plans

Without Bruce Lee, A Remake Is Pointless

While Spike Lee’s plans for his Enter the Dragon remake were the most surprising, he was far from the only notable filmmaker to have been attached to a remake of the classic. Shortly after Spike Lee’s remake fell apart, it was reported that Brett Ratner was trying to develop a remake of Enter the Dragon (via Ain’t It Cool News). Lee was reportedly looking at contemporary martial arts stars who could fill the lead role.

Even before Lee’s attempt at a remake, a reimagining of Enter the Dragon was being formulated with Kurt Sutter, creator of Sons of Anarchy, hired to write and direct it. With the new тιтle of Awaken the Dragon, the movie would have been a noir take on the story, following a lone FBI agent who tracks a Shaolin monk into the violent underground fighting world (via Variety). More recently, director David Leitch was attached to the Enter the Dragon remake, having already proven his action movie chops in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2, Atomic Blonde, and the first John Wick movie.

While it is not surprising that there is a lot of excitement about capitalizing on the iconic brand of the film, Enter the Dragon is a definitive martial arts movie that likely can never be topped. Part of the reason for that is that no remake will have Bruce Lee, an essential part of Enter the Dragon’s success and legacy. Lee was not only a physically impressive action star on screen, but a captivating presence whose legend has only grown. No actor will be able to replicate that feel, so any Enter the Dragon remake is destined to disappoint.