It’s been 12 years in the making, but next year the wait is over, with The Raid 3 finally happening. In fact we can exclusively reveal initial filming is already underway. What may surprise fans is the way in which the long awaited third entry is arriving, with Gareth Evans – director of the The Raid and The Raid 2 – confirming that the rights for the franchise have been purchased by Chinese streaming provider iQIYI, the Havoc helmer stepping into the role of producer for the third instalment. The good news? Iko Uwais will be returning as Rama, with director Stanley Tong of Police Story 3: Supercop and China Strike Force fame on director duty.
While Evans had stated in a 2018 interview that “Rama was not really going to feature in that storyline much at all” when discussing the idea for a third instalment, the new story places the character played by Iko Uwais front and centre once more. What is confirmed is that, in line with Evan’s original idea, the third will take place a couple of hours after The Raid 2 concludes.
iQIYI executives have revealed that Tong was chosen for the project due to his experience of working with de-aging technology on the Jackie Chan starring A Legend, confirming that the technology will play a prominent role in bringing Tong’s vision of The Raid 3 to the screen. Discussing the project in a recent podcast, Tong had this to say –
“So we’re really excited about The Raid 3. Obviously 12 years have passed since the last one, and we’re not getting any younger, so we’ll be using the de-aging technology to ensure Iko Uwais maintains a consistent look to his appearance in The Raid 2. What I’m most thrilled about though is the story, which takes inspiration from The Godfather Part 2 to tell a pair of parallel timelines – we’ll follow Rama directly after the events of the sequel, but we’ll also go back in time to his training days prior to the first Raid, telling the story of how he became a part of the SWAT team. In an industry first, we’ll use de-aging technology to further de-age his 2011 de-aged version to a de-aged younger Rama 20 years ago, using the technology like it’s never been used before.
Yayan Ruhian has signed on to return as the character of Mad Dog, giving us a unique opportunity to tell his story. So while we watch Rama in his early training days, over in the slums of Jakarta we’ll tell the story of a younger Mad Dog, leveraging the de-aging technology to make him 30 years younger. Who was Mad Dog back when he was still just a young pup? Audiences have been asking this question for a while, and the de-aging technology gives us a chance to answer them. This is going to be The Raid for a new generation, continuing China’s tradition of bringing the best action to the world.”
While a release date is still pending, we’ll ensure to keep you updated as the production progresses! For now, check out the first official still from The Raid 3, featuring a de-aged Yayan Ruhian returning as a younger version of Mad Dog:
I am both excited and trepidatious. Always wanted a 3rd installment, but 12 years is a long wait. The action in the first 2 movies is a lot to live up to. They better bring their “A” game there otherwise all the money spent on de-aging the actors will be a waste. I really wish Gareth was directing this.
No, no it’s not.
Sorry, but anyone who has seen Tong’s A Legend will know this is a terrible idea. While Tong directed action classics Like Police Story 3 and Rumble in the Bronx, for well over a decade his output has been extremely poor. Also, the de-aging effects are so unnecessary. Uwais hasn’t changed that much and I’m sure the audience would be willing to forgive any changes in appearance. For the scenes when the character is younger, how about maybe just change the actor.
And I have just realised the date, and feel very silly after my last comment.
No need to feel silly. Your comment still holds value lol
Good one. This is different from the likes of Battle Royale being remade by Bruckheimer and Bay.
Once upon a time, people might have been excited if this were true and the de-aging bullshit wasn’t there, but it’s another reminder of how those days are long over.
This was Diabolical. F you and Nice one.
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And then we find out the joke’s on us when it goes into production in August directed by non other than the orange gods favourite autuer, Brett Ratner
Maybe there’s still a chance for Uwe Boll or Paul W. S. Anderson to direct.
Humm, don´t like the idea…. The Raid 1 and 2 are top movies that is dificult to match, and what i am reading now it not smell like nothing. Terrible idea to make a young Mad Dog digital!!! ;(
Honestly, the whole de-aging thing makes no sense, given that Uwais is only in his early 40s, and still looks younger than that anyway. That’s just a waste of money to me. I mean, seriously—what the hell does a kf film needs de-again technology for? The cool thing about kf films is that there’s people of all ages fighting all different kinds of ways. The “de-aging” thing is just some Hollywood nonsense being put where it dosen’t belong at all. The first two Raid films didn’t need it, so why should the third?