TV series Warrior, inspired by Bruce Lee, gives its star Andrew Koji a chance to flex his muscles and fighting skills – just don’t call him a martial arts actor
- Andrew Koji was a fan of more contemporary action stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and had to ‘rediscover Bruce Lee for the role’, not just impersonate him
- Before he got his break in Warrior, Koji had considered quitting acting altogether, and even weighed the possibility of becoming a monk
Andrew Koji doesn’t want to be another big martial arts star. Despite starring in action roles alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, including Bullet Train with Brad Pitt and Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe with Henry Golding, and a recent Critics Choice nominee for a role in the HBO martial arts series Warrior, Koji says that type of fame does not excite him.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” he says casually, from his home in Britain. The 34-year-old Eurasian actor has wowed viewers with his role as the lead character in Warrior. The second season of the action-packed historical series recently began screening around the world.
“For Warrior, I sort of rediscovered Bruce Lee for the role,” he says. “I knew Bruce Lee wouldn’t have wanted me to do an impersonation.”
Koji’s fight scenes have been seen as highlights of the series, but 14 years ago, at the age of 20, he decided to quit martial arts altogether.
