Actor Ron Yuan will direct a sequel to the Carl Rinsch-directed 2013 period samurai thriller, 47 Ronin, according to Dino-Ray Ramos at Deadline. The film will be Yuan’s latest feature foray at the helm since shepherding Lionsgate’s 2019 dance comp drama, Step Up China.
Keanu Reeves led Rinsch’s film which, apart from its real-life historical roots, is delivered with an epic fantasy twist for the story of a band of masterless 18th-century swordsmen who set out to avenge their lord at the hands of his rival. The film also starred Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ko Shibasaki, Rinko Kikuchi and Cary Tagawa.
Production took place in 2011 with reshoots in 2012 along with extended shoots, prior to post-production issues that reportedly resulted in Rinsch’s removal from the editing room while the studio finished up. The film received mixed to mostly negative critical reviews and bombed at the box office.
Universal 1440 appears to be taking an alternative direction for its own sequel concept and plans to roll cameras in early 2021 ahead of release on Neflix.
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with Universal and the producing team on this genre-blending, martial arts, action, horror and cyber-punk film,” said Yuan. “This will be a fun, intense, supercharged thrill ride for viewers globally.”
