How Bruce Lee's Illegal Chuck Norris Fight Happened
In 1972, Bruce Lee filmed an illegal fight scene with Chuck Norris that evolved into one of the most iconic martial arts showdowns of all time. The fight in question happened in The Way of the Dragon, which was Lee’s third kung fu movie. Following Bruce Lee's starring roles in The Big Boss andFist for Fury with Golden Harvest, he signed a contract to make another movie with the Hong Kong studio.
This time, Bruce Lee was to not only play the lead in The Way of the Dragon, but also to write the script and direct the project. Having been given complete creative control over The Way of the Dragon, Lee was allowed to deliver the kung fu experience he wanted, which he ended with a dramatic, ten-minute faceoff between his character and Chuck Norris’ Colt at the Colosseum in Rome. Remembered in part for being Chuck Norris’ breakout role, Way of the Dragon’s Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris battle has a special place in the history of kung fu movies, due to the visceral feel of the fight and the martial arts choreography.
Related: Bruce Lee Used Clint Eastwood As A Model For His Hollywood Plan
However, getting the fight to happen didn’t come without challenges. And in fact, while Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris's Way of the Dragon fight has become one of the most iconic onscreen martial arts battles of all time, it was actually filmed illegally in part. Here's how Bruce Lee made the Chuck Norris Colosseum fight happen despite the rules that tried to stand in his way.
After giving up on his original United States filming plan for Way of the Dragon, Bruce Lee moved the project to Rome, specifically so he could shoot the final fight in the Colosseum. According to Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly, Lee wanted to fight a Western villain in the
Read more on screenrant.com
