Message star all set to pack a punch

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-02 13:35
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Message star all set to pack a punch

Huang Xiaoming, an actor whose name is not usually associated with action movies, will star in the upcoming martial-arts film Ip Man 2, according to director Wilson Yip.

In this sequel to the 2008 blockbuster Ip Man, a biopic of Bruce Lee's mentor, Yip Man, Huang plays the master's sullen yet outstanding student Huang Jin, a key character.

Huang has been diligently practicing Wing Chun martial arts both on and off the Ip Man 2 set, according to Sina.com. His efforts have won praise from action star Donnie Yen, who told Sina that he could envision Huang becoming "the next king of kungfu". Donnie plays Yip Man in the film.

Ip Man 2 is slated to hit theaters this summer. The film also stars Lynn Hung and Sammo Hung.

Huang's notable screen characters include a Japanese spy chief in the 2009 film The Message, and Xu Wenqiang in the 2006 TV remake of Shanghai Bund.