Kung Fu: The Next Generation
Kung Fu: The Next Generation is a 1987 television pilot which was intended to be a follow-up to the 1972-75 television series, Kung Fu. It was the second follow-up to the series after Kung Fu: The Movie (1986).
| Kung Fu: The Next Generation | |
|---|---|
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Tony Wharmby |
| Starring | Brandon Lee |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | |
| Cinematography | Brianne Murphy |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
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| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release |
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| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | |
| Followed by | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues |
The pilot was not picked up for a series but in 1987 it aired on CBS Summer Playhouse, a series that aired unsold television pilots. In the 1990s, another follow-up to the series titled Kung Fu: The Legend Continues aired which ignored the continuity of the TV movies.
Synopsis
The Pilot tells the story in present day of the great-grandson of the Shaolin monk (who is also named Kwai Chang Caine after his great-grandfather) played by David Darlow and his son Johnny Caine, portrayed by Brandon Lee.
The story explains the fate of the original Caine: he had married and become a town's "medicine man". One night he had a heart attack. But when his wife returned with the town's doctor to tend to him, Caine had disappeared. His ghost appears to his great-grandson and great-great-grandson. Later, the pair destroy an arms dealing operation.
References
- Pilato, Herbie J. The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western. Boston: Charles A. Tuttle, 1993. ISBN 0-8048-1826-6