Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the brief but impactful life of Brandon Lee, a rising star who fought to carve out his own identity while living in the shadow of his father, martial arts icon Bruce Lee. We discuss Brandon’s early years as a rebellious student and his initial reluctance to embrace martial arts films, noting how he even turned down the opportunity to play his father in the biopic Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

Join us as we trace his journey through early action roles in Legacy of Rage and Showdown in Little Tokyo to his breakthrough performance as Eric Draven in the supernatural thriller The Crow. We detail the intense physical and mental preparation Lee undertook for the role, including his decision to minimize traditional martial arts moves in favor of a unique, aerobic fighting style.

Finally, we examine the heartbreaking negligence that led to his accidental death at age 28 caused by a prop gun on the set of The Crow, and the legacy he left behind as a cult icon whose career ended just as it was truly beginning.