Donnie Yen directs and stars in HK legal thriller

The veteran actor pulls together a cast of seasoned professionals for The Prosecutor, which he also produces

- John Lui

Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen at first turned down being involved in his latest film The Prosecutor, saying that procedural thrillers involving the police and court system had become too familiar.

Hong Kong actor-producer Raymond Wong, a producer on Yen's Ip Man martial arts movie franchise (2008 to present), had presented him a screenplay about a miscarriage of justice based on a true story.

"He said, 'This is a role I think is suitable for you.' I told him I didn't know the genre, and also it was a kind of law and order story that was always on television. It wasn't my cup of tea,' says Yen, speaking to The Straits Times on a video call from Hong Kong, where he was promoting The Prosecutor.

Wong would not give up. After some months of back and forth, Yen changed his mind, but on one condition - he had to change the story into a style he was familiar with.

"I have to tell the story differently, so I spent a year and a half putting this movie together," he says.

Eventually, the 61-year-old actor would wear the hats of star, director and producer on The Prosecutor, which opens in Singapore cinemas on Dec 21.