AVENGEMENT: Samuel Goldwyn Picks Up Scott Adkins Action Thriller For May Theatrical/VOD Release

As of Wednesday, 2019 is officially set to be a banner year for director Jesse V. Johnson whose next film, Avengement, will now open in select theaters and VOD on May 24 in the U.S. from Samuel Goldwyn Films. The film marks the latest reunion for Johnson with martial arts star Scott Adkins in their sixth shared credit together following recent successes like Savage Dog, Accident Man, The Debt Collector and the upcoming release of Triple Threat from Well Go USA.

While released on furlough from prison, a lowly criminal evades his guards and returns to his old haunts to take revenge on the people that made him a cold-hearted killer. It’s an epic, bloody battle to search for the soul he lost years ago on the streets of an unforgiving city.

Johnson is keeping properly busy these days promoting Triple Threat as it approaches its one-night theatrical rollout on March 19 and VOD release on the 22nd, and even throwing in word of a greenlit sequel to Accident Man in a report by my good friend Eoin at The Action Elite. Johnson took to us in an interview to weigh in in a recent interview about Avengement which he also wrote with Accident Man scribe Stu Small:

Avengement is a very different film to Triple Threat, it’s a siege movie, in a very violent pub with a very violent group of men. It is a character driven performance piece and scene for scene is very likely my finest acting work to date. I’m so incredibly proud of every member of the cast, everyone brought it and worked so very hard. It was an exhausting and dangerous film to make, as we relate the story from the pub, visiting, prison, clubs, alleyways and it’s also an extremely moving film, one that will hopefully introduce Scott to a whole new audience.

A common assessment from the US test screenings was, “…we had no idea who Scott Adkins was before, but he could be the new Tom Hardy…” which is exactly what we were going for.

Avengement was produced by Bleiberg Entertainment’s Company B label with Ehud Bleiberg and Joe Karimi-Nik, and with Nicholas Donnermeyer exec producing alongside Adkins who also gave a statement in the latest presser. Bleiberg is also handling worldwide sales.

“It’s a hard-hitting gangster film with fight scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat,” says Ryan Boring, Director of Marketing & PR at Samuel Goldwyn Films.

“AVENGEMENT marks my sixth film with Jesse V. Johnson and there’s a very good reason why we keep working together. Jesse allows me to play in the action genre sandbox that my fanbase expect whilst simultaneously pushing me to stretch myself as an actor. Along with co-writer Stu Small he crafted a story that allowed me to create a unique and interesting character who I relished playing. Can’t wait for everyone to meet Cain Burgess,” says star/executive producer Scott Adkins.

“Every film you get to make is a gift, and as such you must be sure to attempt to create something worthwhile. With AVENGEMENT, Scott and I worked very carefully to author a character and scenario that was original and fresh, with action sequences that were justified and exciting without repeating anything we had done before,” says director Jesse V. Johnson. “With Cain Burgess, Scott has built a nuanced, interesting but paradoxically, a both frightening and sympathetic character. A man who has tempered his pain and rejection into a carbon steel tool for revenge, but this is not revenge in the skindeep film-noir style, this revenge is deeper and more resonating, a satisfyingly baroque almost elegant retribution.”

Avengement also stars Craig Fairbass (London Heist), Nick Moran (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Thomas Turgoose (Kingsman: The Golden Circle, This Is England), Kierston Wareing (Fish Tank, 100 Streets), and Louis Mandylor (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, In The Eyes Of A Killer, The Debt Collector).

Lee B. Golden III

filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com | Web

Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.