The One 2001

A supremely powerful criminal known as Gabriel YuLaw (played by the talented Jet Li) once served as an officer for the “Multiverse Authority” (MVA), an agency dedicated to maintaining order in inter-dimensional travel. This agency operates by detecting wormhole openings, much like forecasting the weather. Driven by an insatiable need for dominance, YuLaw embarks on a dangerous quest to eliminate every other version of himself scattered across alternate universes in a bid to become “The One”, a godlike entity that would grant him total supremacy.

YuLaw’s exploits are deeply limited by the stringent regulations surrounding travel between the universe realms. Over time, he has ruthlessly dispatched various versions of himself, including Yu Fook Law from the Monoceros Universe, the laid-back surfer Swen Law of the Tucana Universe, Ni Dilaw from the Canopus Universe, Kia Jilaw of the Serpens Universe, the long-haired Seth Law from Procyon Universe, Frun Law of the Shaula Universe, and the infamous criminal Lawless from Anubis Universe. Cumulatively, he has eliminated an astounding 123 alternate incarnations of himself, each time consuming their life energies to enhance his own power.

However, YuLaw’s reckless nature catches up with him, leading to his arrest for executing unauthorized jumps between universes. MVA agents Rodecker and Funsch apprehend him after he slays Lawless, bringing him back to the Alpha Universe to face justice. Despite being imprisoned for life in a penal colony, YuLaw’s formidable abilities allow him to bend prison bars with just one punch. He possesses superhuman speed and strength, and it is only a matter of time before he stages an audacious escape, helped by his lover and captivating red-haired criminal, Massie Walsh.

Using a wormhole window, he alters his destination to the Charis Universe, leaving Rodecker and Funsch stranded for the time being, since the wormhole’s opening lasted a mere 30 seconds. Meanwhile, in the Charis Universe, the last known alternate version of Gabriel, or Gabe Law (also portrayed by Jet Li), is living a seemingly normal life working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department but has been undergoing mysterious enhancements in strength, speed, and mental acuity. His wife, T.K. Law (played by Carla Gugino), is equally baffled by these strange developments.

During a routine assignment transporting a prisoner, Gabe becomes acutely aware of Yulaw’s looming presence just before Yulaw attempts to eliminate him. What follows is a high-stakes chase that defies the laws of humanity; Gabe leaps an impossibly tall wall, showcasing his newfound abilities. After being shot by Yulaw but not fatally wounded, the confrontation is interrupted once again by Rodecker and Funsch.

As the story progresses, Gabe grapples with the empirical reality of facing a version of himself, while inter-dimensional travel remains a perplexing concept for him. Even at the hospital following their encounters, Gabe experiences unsettling sensations hinting at Yulaw’s arrival, leading to another explosive clash, yet once more, law enforcement intervenes. Yulaw cleverly avoids being killed by threatening carelessly that if he dies, Gabe would become the last remaining version, sparking further chaos and confusion among Gabe’s law enforcement colleagues.

With each subsequent confrontation, the stakes rise. Rodecker faces a burdensome dilemma: they are entrusted with pursuing two superhuman entities, both of whom are equally challenging to eliminate. Funsch, relentless in his pursuit of YuLaw, argues for decisive action without protocol, leading to devastating consequences that culminate in Rodecker’s tragic demise. In the wake of these events, Funsch teams up with Gabe to track down Yulaw, while the emotional stakes reach unimaginable heights when Yulaw invades Gabe’s home, leading to the catastrophic moment where he forces Gabe to witness the death of T.K., who attempts to shield her husband from harm.

The tension escalates as they converge at an industrial facility for the climactic showdown. The narrative ultimately delivers a thrilling confrontation between Gabe and Yulaw, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, Gabe emerges victorious; however, the trio becomes ensnared within the wormhole that catapults them back to MVA headquarters in the Alpha Universe. After an intense final attempt by YuLaw to swap places with Gabe, he is exiled to a penal colony for his actions.

As the MVA prepares to return Gabriel to his home universe, where he will face justice for all the atrocities committed by YuLaw, Funsch, recognizing the weight of their shared history, decides to send Gabe to an alternate universe reminiscent of his past—the very circumstances that led him to meet his beloved wife. Meanwhile, as YuLaw stands atop a Ziggurat in the Hades universe, he ominously vows to continue his quest to become “The One,” resolutely preparing to engage a relentless wave of adversaries that dare to confront him.