Kuala Lampur, July 9 -- KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 - What if the next evolution of Shaolin kung fu films didn't come from China, but from Malaysia?

That's the vision action star and martial artist Shi Yanneng hopes to realise by combining authentic Shaolin martial arts with Malaysia's rich multicultural identity in a bid to build a Pan-Asian action film franchise here.

Shi, who has appeared in Kung Fu Hustle and Master Z: Ip Man Legacy, said he sees Malaysia as the ideal launchpad for a new generation of action films, citing the country's multicultural society, rich heritage and sizeable Chinese community.

"Throughout my years in the film industry, I've always believed that action films, especially kung fu films, are a unique genre with univ...