The Prosecutor’s Donnie Yen: 'Market expects new creativity and excitement from me'

The Prosecutor by Donnie Yen switches things up from the intense gunfights of John Wick to a nail-biting courtroom drama. Based on actual events, the film stars Yen as a prosecutor who rescued a wrongfully convicted man from prison by taking on a formidable legal cartel. On June 13, 2025, the movie will debut exclusively on Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium).

Inspired by true events

Acting, producing, and directing all at once, Yen brings his trademark energy to a new genre while keeping the gritty style of his previous action flicks. We follow a young man in The Prosecutor as he navigates a complex web of lies and corruption following his wrongful conviction for drug trafficking. The story takes place against the backdrop of an imperfect court system. While wrestling with ethical and legal questions, Yen's character strives to bring to light a circle of prominent solicitors who were complicit in the innocent man's framing.

Yen described his role as taking the role of both producer and actor apart from acting in the movie, which is my usual position, when asked about his involvement in the film and his decision to multitask. He has put in his best effort to complete his assignments by reading up on the film's topic and any relevant facts about the profession shown. The aspects that Yen must take into account as a filmmaker are the best way to shoot the scene, how to move the plot forward, how to make it visually appealing, and whether or not it can provide anything fresh. Furthermore, as a producer, it's his job to strike a balance and five years of filming is too much for him. The filmmaker-actor needs to strike a balance while thinking about the resources of the film firm.

Dive into intense survival and combat with Dirty Angels and Crocodile Island, now streaming on OTTplay Premium.

Creative vision and relentless involvement

Yen stressed that being involved in every part of the process is crucial. For him, the end result of every director's process is the expression of their personal feelings in the conversation. If one wants to do something significant in their life, this is the mantra they tell themselves first thing in the morning. Yen said that there is an enormous amount of time, a large number of people, and many resources needed to make a film. He prefers to take an active role in everything because he would rather not feel guilty about it later. His self-imposed standards are a result of his many years of experience filming action films. The audience is eagerly anticipating Donnie Yen's films with the hope that they will bring a fresh take on action and inventiveness. He revealed that four distinct action sequences, each with its own unique style, make up this film.

The other actors in the cast are Kent Cheng, Shirley Chan, and Julian Cheung. With four action sequences that try to offer Yen's characteristic intensity in various formats, The Prosecutor stays true to its action roots—even though the story focuses on drama and legal stakes.

With the usual high-stakes action, The Prosecutor adds a new chapter to Yen's varied career while providing a unique perspective on power, justice, and endurance.