Huo Yuanjia - in Popular Culture

In Popular Culture

Huo's life story has been adapted into a number of films and television series. In these adaptations, Huo is depicted as a heroic martial artist who fights to uphold the dignity of the Chinese people in the face of foreign aggression. His death is portrayed dramatically: he is secretly poisoned to death by foreigners, usually the Japanese, who see him as a threat to their interests in their exploitation of China.

A notable feature in some of these adaptations is the appearance of Chen Zhen, a fictional student of Huo, who brings his teacher's murderers to justice and continues to uphold Huo's legacy.

• The Legendary Fok, a 1981 Hong Kong television series produced by RTV, starring Wong Yuen-sun as Fok Yuen-gap (Cantonese for Huo Yuanjia) and Bruce Leung as Chan Zan (Cantonese for Chen Zhen).

• Legend of a Fighter, a 1982 Hong Kong film starring Bryan Leung as Huo Yuanjia.

• Fist of Fury, a 1995 Hong Kong television series based on the 1972 film of the same title that starred Bruce Lee as Chen Zhen. Produced by ATV, the series starred Donnie Yen as Chan Zan and Eddy Ko in a supporting role as Fok Yuen-gap.

• Huo Yuanjia, a 2001 Chinese television series starring Vincent Zhao as the titular character and Wu Yue as Chen Zhen. It was followed by a sequel Jingwu Yingxiong Chen Zhen.

• Fearless, a 2006 film starring Jet Li as Huo Yuanjia.

• Huo Yuanjia, also known as The Legendary Fok 2008, a 2008 television series starring Ekin Cheng as Huo Yuanjia and Jordan Chan as Chen Zhen. Jordan Chan reprised his role as Chen Zhen in the sequel Jingwu Chen Zhen.