Warrior Poet Founder Daniel J. Coplan Explores Mortality And Meaning With Release Of Novel “Let It Be”

Daniel J. Coplan, the filmmaker behind controversial cult classic The Dragon Gate, has stepped into the literary world with the release of Let It Be, a novel that intertwines personal transformation with a deep philosophical meditation on life, death, and the human spirit. Released under his creative banner Warrior Poet, the novel marks another chapter in Coplan’s unconventional journey as an artist, survivor, and chronicler of emotional depth.

Known for his provocative and boundary-pushing work, Coplan has long embraced themes of resilience and redemption. With a history as storied as his characters, he brings a raw and experiential authenticity to his writing. As a teenager, Coplan faced a near-death experience, weighing just 69 pounds at 5'11" and given mere hours to live. Later in life, he would survive two shooting incidents and undertake a Buddhist pilgrimage to Japan’s Mt. Fuji—experiences that have influenced his narrative lens.

“I have always been captivated by the human ability to turn darkness into light,” Coplan says. “My new novel Let It Be visits this territory.”

Coplan’s film career includes international notoriety. The Dragon Gate, once banned in Korea and censored in Germany, positioned him as a voice unafraid to challenge sociopolitical boundaries. That same unflinching commitment to truth carries into his prose. Let It Be continues this legacy—not as a replication of past achievements, but as a standalone statement about emotional survival and personal agency in a chaotic world.

The novel reflects his trademark depth and complexity, combining literary introspection with vivid characterization. While fictional in structure, it draws heavily from Coplan’s lived experiences, threading memoir-like realism into a fictional frame. The work avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on the quiet resilience that defines its protagonist—a motif that echoes across Coplan’s creative output.

Let It Be also represents the expansion of the Warrior Poet brand, a multidisciplinary creative platform. With this transition from visual storytelling to the written word, Coplan continues to experiment across genres, formats, and expressive forms. The brand itself encapsulates his dual nature: the introspective philosopher and the bold storyteller. In many ways, Let It Be is a bridge between those two personas.

Though already known in underground film circles, Coplan’s pivot to literature underscores the thematic versatility of his work. Let It Be is less an artistic departure than an evolution—rooted in his past but pointing toward new forms of narrative engagement. The book challenges readers not through sensationalism but by illuminating the subtleties of human endurance.

As both the author and the public face of Warrior Poet, Coplan has maintained a steady if unconventional presence in the arts. His Instagram (@dancoplan) and Facebook platform (facebook.com/DanielJCoplan.author) have served as spaces for exploring philosophical musings, creative insights, and personal anecdotes that often intersect with his artistic output.

The choice to publish on USANews.com marks a deliberate effort to reach broader audiences while staying rooted in Coplan’s iconoclastic voice. The platform's national reach provides a counterbalance to his cult status, offering a space where his work can be considered on its literary merits apart from his reputation in the film world.

Despite—or perhaps because of—his history of being overlooked by mainstream critical institutions, Coplan has cultivated a creative ethos that values authenticity over acclaim. He is less concerned with genre labels or commercial trends than with the spiritual integrity of his work. Let It Be exemplifies that ethos: a deeply personal project with universal relevance.

While Let It Be does not seek to resolve life’s philosophical dilemmas, it invites readers to dwell in them. The novel avoids prescriptive conclusions, choosing instead to reflect the complexity of human experience with precision and honesty. This narrative strategy aligns with Coplan’s broader creative philosophy—one that resists tidy resolutions in favor of evocative questions.

Available now through Amazon and other fine book sellers, the novel stands as a continuation of a career defined by boldness, endurance, and reinvention. In a cultural landscape often dominated by repetition and predictability, Let It Be offers a quieter but more enduring kind of innovation.

For more information or to purchase Let It Be, visit Amazon.
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