(no subject)
Oh my god.
The first and most important factor was, of course, Bruce Lee, the biggest star in Hong Kong and on the Mandarin-language movie circuit. Lee's Hong Kong success had attracted attention back in the United States. His popularity from his previous Hollywood appearances certainly didn't hurt Warner Brothers' belief in his potential stardom, though this belief was belied in the previous year when the studio was reluctant to cast Lee in Kung Fu... According to Weintraub, the TV series was designed for Bruce Lee. When he didn't get the part he was stunned and upset. Warner Brothers, this source claimed, wanted an American actor for the leading role.
WB, you IDIOTS.
The first and most important factor was, of course, Bruce Lee, the biggest star in Hong Kong and on the Mandarin-language movie circuit. Lee's Hong Kong success had attracted attention back in the United States. His popularity from his previous Hollywood appearances certainly didn't hurt Warner Brothers' belief in his potential stardom, though this belief was belied in the previous year when the studio was reluctant to cast Lee in Kung Fu... According to Weintraub, the TV series was designed for Bruce Lee. When he didn't get the part he was stunned and upset. Warner Brothers, this source claimed, wanted an American actor for the leading role.
WB, you IDIOTS.