WI Bruce Lee dies later?

The Vulture

Banned
What might the effect on martial arts culture, the entertainment industry, and possibly Asian-American culture be if Bruce Lee had not died so young but had completed Game of Death as plannedand maybe a few other films?
 
A 'Rocky' movie where Balboa goes up against a true martial arts champion? :D

Lee gets a contract with Warner Brothers for additional films, probably co-starring Chuck Norris, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his son Brandon, and possibly even Jackie Chan at the beginning of Chan's career. (and I'm not being completely facetious up above--Stallone and Schwarzenegger could also appear in Bruce Lee movies at least until they become headliners themselves).

If Jackie Chan's career can be seen as a model, Bruce Lee will probably transition to more dramatic roles as he gets older, downplaying (but not completely eliminating) the martial arts aspects of the parts. Lee's ambition was to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor and he did have the talent. Lee's accent is what hindered his acceptance by American studios, but as he gets older and more experienced with using English his accent will moderate with time--not unlike what has happened with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had to be dubbed for his first few movies. Eventually Bruce Lee will become a director and producer, perhaps in the Hong Kong film industry.

Jeet Kune Do, Lee's personal martial arts style, is seen in OTL as a precursor to modern Mixed Martial Arts. I can see Lee becoming deeply involved in MMA as well, if not as a fighter then certainly as a manager/promoter.

I can also see Lee becoming a political activist, particularly over matters such as the Tienanmen massacre and the sovereignty of Hong Kong.
 

The Vulture

Banned
Perhaps instead of the modern day UFC (which has a bit of a poor reputation among some martial artists) we have some kind of JKD federation becoming the foremost contact sport in America.
 
Perhaps instead of the modern day UFC (which has a bit of a poor reputation among some martial artists) we have some kind of JKD federation becoming the foremost contact sport in America.

Bruce Lee working together with some of the other greats of his day could do it. I'd love to see Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali work together on this project.
 
Bruce Lee working together with some of the other greats of his day could do it. I'd love to see Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali work together on this project.
Hey, he worked with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!

OTOH, part of Bruce's mystique was his early death...
 
Provided Bruce Lee keeps his personal life clean or at least quiet(something which was a lot more important in the 1970's and 1980's than today, quite frankly) Asian men get a big boost as masculine role models.

The stereotype of Asian men being nerdy, non-assertive types (a common one for the era except among people who fought in WWII, Korea, or Vietnam--even today it still crops up) who are pushovers for others gets put to death once and for all. The martial arts and Eastern mysticism fads of the 1970's may not last forever but they will last longer with Bruce Lee and his students keeping them in the limelight.

He won't be the legend he was in OTL but he'll be plenty big enough of a legend. Elvis's early death OTL didn't change the fact that he was still a talented, pioneering musician. Had he lived he would have continued to make music and be active in the industry. Likewise with Bruce Lee--he's got talent no matter how you spin it. In this timeline he'll continue to be an icon but perhaps not in the same way as we know him.
 
Well that's what makes Bruce Lee so amazing is that he got where he was without having any major addictions or skeletons in his closet. He'd probably become a majorly popular, and positive, role model to children as his life went on.

THOUGH there is a possible area where things might get ugly for him...

Because who knows what this would've done for his late son Brandon. Who knows if he'll even get into acting, or try to follow in his father's steps in the world of martial arts, or just soak in the light of being the son of a major superstar.

Who knows if Brandon would've even taken the role of the Crow if his dad was still alive. If so, then if Brandon still dies in this ATL, who knows how that would effect Bruce Lee as a result.
 
What about including Bruce Lee in the inaugural UFC lineup? He would have been 52 at the time (1993), which would have, barely, been conceivable. Imagine him matching up against a young Royce Gracie, for the ultimate striker vs. grappler matchup?
 
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