If you’ve ever watched my Reel Action video series, then you already know my deep love for martial artist and Enter the Dragon star, Jim Kelly. Other than that Bruce Lee classic, Kelly’s claim-to-fame was 1977’s Black Samurai, an adaptation of the first book in Marc Olden’s pulp novel series. It’s taken far too long, in my opinion, but a new film is in the works at Netflix, and it has John Wick director Chad Stahelski aboard.
Deadline reports Stahelski will direct Netflix’s Black Samurai film, with a script by Foundation writer Leigh Dana Jackson. Black Samurai centers on Robert Sand, an American soldier and agent of D.R.A.G.O.N. who uses his martial arts skills to battle an evil organization with plans to unleash a deadly new weapon on the world.
The classic image of a Black martial artist with a giant afro comes from Jim Kelly. Whoever takes on the lead role in Black Samurai has some very big shoes to fill. But with eight total books in Olden’s series, the potential for a huge franchise is obviously there.
