‘No Retreat, No Surrender’ to return to screens as a Limited Series!

“No Retreat, No Surrender” Teaser Poster

While fans have been lamenting the upcoming 6^th and final season of Cobra Kai, good news is on the way with the recent announcement from 365 Flix that another 80’s trilogy is going to receive the limited series treatment in the form of No Retreat, No Surrender.

The 1986 original marked Seasonal Films venture into the English language market, and introduced the talents of director and choreographer Corey Yuen to the wider world, as well as the iconic characters played by Kurt McKinney and Jean Claude Van Damme. The good news? Both actors are returning, as well as Cynthia Rothrock and Matthias Hues, who’ll be (kind of) resuming their roles from the 1987 sequel No Retreat, No Surrender II. While during their original runs the productions were unrelated in terms of plot and characters, mainly due to Van Damme breaking his contract and convincing McKinney not to return either, it would seem that the series is aiming to create a kind of No Retreat, No Surrender universe (meaning if a 2^nd season is green lit we could see the return of Billy Blanks and Keith Cooke from The King of Kickboxers? We can only hope!).

Notably Avedon is returning as Scott Wylde, his character from the sequel as opposed to his role as Will Alexander in No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers, indicating that his recent announcement of a planned follow-up to the third instalment could be moving ahead (which could also explain the absence of Keith Vitali).

Notable new faces include Olivia Liang from the recent Kung Fu reboot who’ll be stepping into the role of R.J. Madison, played by J.W. Fails in the original, and DTV star Alexander Nevsky will play a new character called Vladimir, the son of Jean Claude Van Damme’s iconic Ivan the Russian. Most significantly for kung-fu fans, Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson will be stepping into the shoes of the late Kim Tae-jeong to play the ghost of Bruce Lee, which of course no continuation of the original No Retreat, No Surrender would be without.

While there’s no news yet on who’ll be directing and choreographing the action, the official press release does provide details on the confirmed cast and a plot synopsis. Check it out below –

• Kurt McKinney – Jason Stillwell
• Olivia Liang – R.J. Madison
• Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson – The ghost of Bruce Lee
• Loren Avedon – Scott Wylde
• Cynthia Rothrock – Tyler (daughter of Terry) and the ghost of Terry
• Jean Claude Van Damme – Ivan the Russian
• Alexander Nevsky – Vladimir the Russian (son of Ivan)
• Matthias Hues – Petrov (twin of Yuri)

In the new limited series No Retreat, No Surrender the Russian army have rebuilt their base in the jungles of northern Thailand since their defeat in Cambodia 30 years ago, and are now more involved in human trafficking than ever before. Overseen by the vicious Petrov (Matthias Hues), the twin of Yuri from No Retreat, No Surrender II, his right-hand man Ivan (Jean Claude Van Damme) is now ready to complete an act of revenge almost 40 years in the making. After suffering defeat at the hands of Jason Stillwell in Seattle, Ivan plans to make Stillwell suffer by kidnapping his best friend R.J. Madison (Olivia Liang), selling her into the seedy underground brothels of Pattaya run by his son Vladimir (Alexander Nevsky).

With only a flight ticket and the clothes on his back Stillwell heads to Thailand to rescue his best friend but is greeted by dead ends wherever he goes. At his wits end, after participating in an underground Muay Thai match he captures the attention of alcoholic trainer Scott Wylde (Loren Avedon), who’s been living as a recluse since his best friend’s lover sacrificed herself many years before. Wylde knows how dangerous the Russian army are, and when they’re joined by Tyler (Cynthia Rothrock), the child of Mac and Terry that he never knew existed, a once in a lifetime chance for redemption presents itself. Up against insurmountable odds, the trio have one other unlikely ally to help them on their quest – the spirit of Bruce Lee (Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson) – and they’ll need all the Little Dragon’s wisdom and combat knowledge if they’re to stand a chance of getting out alive.

We’ll continue to provide updates as we hear about them! In the meantime, here’s the trailer for the original No Retreat, No Surrender:

– Happy April Fools’ Day from Cityonfire.com!