The Ip Man universe is officially expanding once again. Actor Dennis To is returning to play the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster in a brand-new film titled Ip Man: Kung Fu Legacy, continuing one of modern martial arts cinema’s most successful franchises. The project is already being introduced to international buyers at the Cannes Film Market, where sales company All Rights Entertainment has begun global presales.
According to reports, production on the film is expected to begin in October, with an international release planned sometime in 2027. Dennis To will once again step into the role of Ip Man, the legendary martial arts master best known worldwide as the teacher of Bruce Lee. While the larger franchise became globally famous through Donnie Yen’s performances, Dennis To’s version of the character has quietly developed its own loyal following over the years.
The new film arrives shortly after the completion of Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend, which reportedly secured strong international sales ahead of its North American release through Well Go USA. That momentum appears to have encouraged producers to continue building the extended Ip Man cinematic universe instead of ending the series anytime soon.
What makes Dennis To’s portrayal different from Donnie Yen’s famous interpretation is the overall tone and timeline. Yen’s films largely focused on a more mature and battle-tested version of Ip Man navigating war, cultural shifts, and personal legacy. Dennis To’s spin-off stories, meanwhile, tend to explore a younger and more traditional side of the Wing Chun master, leaning more heavily into old-school martial arts storytelling and classic kung fu atmosphere.
To first played Ip Man in The Legend Is Born: Ip Man before reprising the role in Ip Man: The Awakening and Ip Man: Kung Fu Master. While those projects never reached the same mainstream global visibility as the Donnie Yen-led films, they steadily built a dedicated fanbase among martial arts movie audiences who appreciated the more grounded kung fu style and traditional choreography.
The original Ip Man franchise itself became one of the defining martial arts series of the 21st century. Beginning with the 2008 film starring Donnie Yen, the movies helped revive large-scale kung fu cinema internationally at a time when superhero blockbusters were dominating global screens. Beyond the action, the franchise also connected emotionally with audiences by presenting Ip Man not simply as a fighter but as a calm, disciplined mentor trying to preserve dignity and tradition during periods of political and social chaos.
That emotional angle played a huge role in why the films resonated globally, especially across Asian markets and among longtime martial arts cinema fans. The movies also significantly boosted global interest in Wing Chun itself, introducing many younger viewers to the martial art through stylish yet grounded fight choreography.
All Rights Entertainment, which operates across Paris, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, is once again handling international distribution duties for the new installment. CEO Aymeric Contat Desfontaines said the company remains excited about continuing to expand the Ip Man universe for worldwide audiences, noting that the franchise still carries strong global appeal years after its original breakout success.
The continued expansion of the series also reflects something larger happening inside action cinema lately. While Hollywood increasingly leans toward CGI-heavy superhero battles, martial arts films built around practical choreography and physical stunt work are quietly finding renewed appreciation among audiences tired of overproduced action. Franchises like Ip Man continue surviving because they offer something many modern blockbusters do not — real physical performance, grounded combat, and emotional storytelling built around discipline rather than spectacle alone.
Right now, details about the plot of Kung Fu Legacy remain mostly under wraps. But for longtime fans of classic kung fu cinema, the return of Dennis To as Ip Man signals that the franchise still has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
