“Ong-Bak” International Teaser Poster

Martial arts wonder Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak, Triple Threat, Paradox, xXx: Return of Xander Cage) has been hitched to lead an English-language action trilogy from Starlight Entertainment (Midway, Crazy Rich Asians).

For the story, Muay Thai master Jaa will play a legendary assassin who disappeared three years ago and becomes the target of all criminal organizations and law enforcement agencies. According to producers, the story will unfold in an unconventional structure and as the manhunt accelerates, the mystery of the assassin’s identity is slowly unraveled (via Deadline).

Jaa will produce along with Peter Luo (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Midway) and Mike Selby (Skin Trade, Triple Threat).

Filming is slated to begin next year Continue reading →

“Way of the Dragon” Chinese Theatrical Poster

A new “Bruce Lee” project, titled The Dragon Returns, is making its way into the digital edition of the IFFAM Project Market (IPM) during the International Film Festival & Awards Macao, which takes place on December 3-8.

Directed and produced by Romeo Candido (Lolo’s Child), The Dragon Returns involves a plot where Bruce Lee is brought back from his staged death and retirement to save his old friend Chuck Norris from imprisonment (via Deadline).

The film is one of 14 projects that will go through an “intensive program of presentations and meetings conducted digitally with members of the global industry” before it will be eligible for one of four cash awards.

We’ll keep you updated on Continue reading →

“Sacrifice” Theatrical Poster

Martial arts star Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2, Call of Heroes, SPL 2) returns to the battlefield in Sacrifice (aka Jin Gang Chuan), a war epic that also stars Deng Chao (Shadow, The Mermaid), Zhang Yi (Operation Red Sea) and Jang Du (The Captain).

According to AFS, Sacrifice is directed by three different directors: Guan Hu (Dirt, Mr. Six), Lu Yang (Brotherhood of Blades, Colored Youth) and Frant Gwo (The Wandering Earth, My Old Classmate).

Sacrifice is pitched as a simple tale of Chinese soldiers attempting to repair a bridge, while under constant bombardment from U.S. forces and planes. The three directors present three different points of view of the Chinese bravery under fire (via Variety).

Sacrifice had a domestic release date on Continue reading →

“Hand Rolled Cigarette” Theatrical Poster

Actor-turned-director Chan Kin Long – who appeared in Fruit Chan’s The Midnight After – will soon be releasing his debut feature film, Hand Rolled Cigarette, starring Gordon Lam Ka Tung (The Brink, Paradox, The Sleep Curse) and Bipin Karma.

Hand Rolled Cigarette tells the story of a retired soldier, formerly in the British colonial army, who agrees to store drugs for a South Asian small-time crook. The two men bond when they realise they are both leftovers from a long-gone colonial past, but loyalties are tested when it’s revealed that the drugs have been stolen from an underworld kingpin (via SD).

The film also stars Chin Siu-ho (Vampire Cleanup Department), Singh Hartihan Bitto (Raging Fire) and Aaron Chow (Firestorm).

A release date is still pending for Continue reading →

“A Good Day To Die Hard” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Remember that 6th Die Hard sequel/prequel from director Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) that was supposed to be titled McClane? If you do, forget the idea ever existed, because it has been scrapped.

Cancellation of Fox’s McClane should have come as no surprise, given Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox last March. But now, a reputable source claims that Disney is moving forward with an entirely new Die Hard project, not related to McClane.

Disney’s new take, which will be a reboot of the franchise, which means we will be introduced to a younger McClane (i.e. Bruce Willis was 33 when he made the first Die Hard).

Again, this is a rumor. For all we know, Disney is reverting back to Ben Trebilcook’s Die Hard 6 idea from 2013 Continue reading →