Ip Man 5 Has To Bring Back This Actor To Redeem A Huge Insult To A Kung Fu Movie Legend

An insult to a kung fu movie legend can finally be rectified if one supporting character returns for Ip Man 5. The martial arts movie franchise appeared to reach a conclusion with Ip Man 4: The Finale’s ending, but it’s since become apparent that even the death of the titular character hasn’t killed the series. Somehow, though, Ip Man 5 is happening regardless.

As it stands, very little is known about the plans for Ip Man 5. That said, the project has been confirmed to be in development, with Donnie Yen returning to reprise his role as the famous Wing Chun grandmaster. Although there’s been no confirmation one way or another, it stands to reason that the film will take place at an earlier point in the timeline than Ip Man 4, allowing the movie to serve as a previously unseen chapter in Ip Man’s life story. As for who will join him, there’s a good chance the movie will also bring back the Ip Man movies’ regular supporting cast, which should give it one more chance to correct a misstep from Ip Man 3.

Master Law’s Defeat In Ip Man 3 Disrespected Lo Mang’s Kung Fu Movie Image

The Shaolin Hercules Deserved Better

Despite appearing in three of the four Ip Man films, Lo Mang’s Master Law has received very little recognition for his martial arts expertise. Introduced in Ip Man 2 as a Monkey Style Kung Fu practitioner and one of the local martial arts masters Ip Man befriended, Law was one of several fighters sought out and beaten by Ip Man 3’s villain, Cheung Tin-chi. The movie glossed through Tin-chi’s challenge matches, devoting no more than 10 seconds to his easy win over Master Law. Master Law didn’t land a single punch on Tin-chi, a fact that wouldn’t have been noteworthy if it wasn’t for Lo Mang’s status as a former martial arts star.

Years before joining the Ip Man series as Master Law, Lo was a favorite of Shaw Brothers, the top kung fu movie studio in Hong Kong during the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, Lo Mang appeared in co-starring roles in well over a dozen martial arts films, the most famous of which being The Five Deadly Venoms. Known at the time as “The Shaolin Hercules” due to his muscular physique, Lo played Toad, a member of the titular group and one of its three heroes. Due in large part to his role, The Five Deadly Venoms has since developed into a cult classic.

While The Five Deadly Venoms may be Lo Mang’s biggest contribution to the martial arts genre, it’s far from the only action film he should be remembered for. Forming a group often called the Venom Mob, Lo and four of his Five Deadly Venoms co-stars actors as the leads in some of the best kung fu movies of the 1970s. He was involved in films such as Crippled Avengers, TheKid With The Golden Arm, Rebel Intruders, and 2 Champions of Shaolin. Typically, Lo would play one of the heroes, but was sometimes cast as a villain as well, giving them a wide range of roles to work with in their careers.

Master Law Deserves A Huge Win In Ip Man 5

Master Law Needs To Avenge His Past Losses

Because of Lo Mang’s distinguished background as a Shaw Brothers star and Venom Mob member, he was a standout addition to the Ip Man cast, which makes the movie’s use of him all the more problematic. Losing to Tin-chi in a matter of seconds was his lowest point in the franchise, but it also speaks to its attitude toward him in general. He also lost to Ip Man in a table fight in Ip Man 2. A loss to the protagonist was expected, but given Lo’s history, it made sense to assume a character played by him could have at least delivered one of Ip Man’s best fights. However, his kung fu never seemed to phase Donnie Yen’s character.

So far, the Ip Man franchise has yet to demonstrate why it chose to cast someone of Lo’s caliber to play Master Law. That could change in Ip Man 5 if the series chooses a new course with his character and gives him a meaningful victory. Such a scenario doesn’t seem unfathomable, even in spite of Law’s defeats. While he did lose to Ip, his moves still came across as exceptional. Plus, they illustrated that even though it’s been years since Lo was beating up villains in his Venom Mob movies, the actor hasn’t lost a step. In light of that, it’s even more disappointing that the films haven’t taken full advantage of what he brings to the table.

To rectify this, Ip Man 5 needs to give viewers a reminder of what Lo Mang is capable of. Perhaps a scene in Ip Man 5 can reveal that Master Law became lax in his training ahead of his fight with Tin-chi, and has since stepped his training up a notch. If that happens, Master Law can make a real difference in a future fight. Since Ip Man will always be the hero of the franchise, finding an opportunity for that could be challenging, but could work out positively for the film if Ip finds himself teaming up with Master Law and others against several fighters. If so, a slew of individual fights can open the door for Law to get an impressive win of his own.

How Ip Man 5 Can Honor Lo Mang’s Shaw Brothers Legacy

Ip Man 5 Should Pay Tribute To Lo Mang’s Kung Fu Movies

A win in Ip Man 5 is naturally the best way the franchise can pay proper homage to Lo Mang’s legacy as a kung fu movie star. But what would make that even better is a direct tribute to his long career in Shaw Brothers movies. This could come in multiple forms. The actor has had no shortage of memorable moments in his kung fu movies, ranging from Lo Mang’s extraordinary training sequence in Invincible Shaolin to his fight scenes in The Five Deadly Venoms. Any of these could easily be referenced in Ip Man 5 via another appearance from Master Law and whatever his story offers.

Alternatively, Ip Man 5 can pull from the persona Lo Mang consistently brought to his roles in the 1970s and 1980s. Most of Lo’s characters notably shared several of the same mannerisms, including his confident swagger and hotheaded attitude. Either of these qualities that were once common in his Venom Mob performances could be heavily emphasized in Ip Man 5. The movie could also showcase Master Law as a fighter of colossal, unmatched strength, which would go a long way toward giving a kung fu legend the respect he deserves.