In-Development

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THE BLACK DEMON: Josh Lucas Toplines High Seas Creature Thriller Filming In December

Lee B. Golden III

Josh Lucas (Ford v Ferrari, The Forever Purge) is set to star in The Black Demon, from director Adrian Grunberg (Rambo: Last Blood, Get the Gringo). Lucas will star from a script by Boise Esquerra (Austin Film Festival nominated “Blackwater”), with cameras set to roll in December 2021 on location in the Dominican Republic. Pic hails from Javier Chapa of Mucho Mas Media, and Jon Silk of Silk Mass who are producing next to R.U. Robot’s Peter Jakl. Mucho Mas’ Phillip Braun, Simon Wise, Bruce Barshop, Vincent Cordero, and Highland Film Group’s Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier, Henry Winterstern are all exec producing, as will JJ Caruth of HFG’s domestic distribution shingle, The Avenue, and R.U. Robot’s Martin J. Barab. Here is the logline: When oilman Paul Sturges (Lucas) takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul, the vibrant coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals […]

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MOB PSYCHO 100 III On the Way

Edward Orndorff

Mob Psycho 100 has been confirmed by the show’s official Twitter account to be returning for it’s third season. Based on the web manga by ONE and produced by studio Bones (My Hero Academia), the popular anime’s return has been met with a brand new trailer and visual by character designer Yoshimichi Kameda. Mob Psycho 100 is a comedy/drama shonen anime about a boy named Mob. He’s your “average” psychic, and yet, keeps finding much more than your everyday encounters. Originally a web manga by ONE, the anime is directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa of studio Bones, series composition by Hiroshi Seko, and Music by Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell) The official Twitter was updated today with a trailer for the new show, which you can view below. The first two seasons are available on Funimation. Get Ready, Wake Your Psyche Up, MOB!#モブサイコ100#mobpsycho100 pic.twitter.com/BfBc68UD6Y — 【放送&配信中‼︎‼︎】モブサイコ100 公式 (@mobpsycho_anime) October […]

1%er (ONE PERCENTER): Tak Sakaguchi Reteams With Director Yudai Yamaguchi For ‘Real Action Road’ Thriller Next Year

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker Yudai Yamaguchi is reteaming with action star Tak Sakaguchi for 1%er (One Percenter), according to an announcement from Sakaguchi’s WiiBER production label. The film marks a reunion between the star and director with numerous shared credits in their wake, dating back to Sakaguchi’s 2000 breakout zombie action thriller, Ryuhei Kitamura’s Versus, on which Yamaguchi served as screenwriter. Not much is yet known about the project, save for the most recent announcement made via Twitter that basically hints at a story about a man on a journeys onto the road less traveled to “master the path”, that is of the “real action road”. That’s basically what I got from the tweet’s auto-translation, though admittedly, the tweet itself might lend something better than what I could offer for its aesthetic. What should go without saying is the level of action fans can expect given what Sakaguchi has brought to the table […]

I AM VASH: 108 Media And Revolution Set Cast, 2022 Start For 70’s Action Crime Series With ‘Paskal’ And ‘Wira’ Director

Lee B. Golden III

Adrian Teh (The Wedding Diary, Paskal, Wira) will direct I Am Vash, an original action crime series that will star award-winning talents, actress Sangeeta Krishnasamy (Best Female Actor winner at the 29th Malaysian Film Award, Adiwiraku) and actor Bront Palarae (Gundala, Fly By Night). 108 Media is producing the series with Zainir Aminullah’s premium production shingle Revolution Media as co-producer, with eight one-hour episodes to commence principal photography next May for an early 2023 premiere. I Am Vash takes its cues from historical events, iconography, and real-life superheroes, written and authentically developed with a cross-border writers’ room for both local and international market appeal, with the show’s dialogue to be primarily written in English and Malay, as well as in Tamil and Cantonese dialects. The series revolves around the crime-ridden seaside town of Port Klang during the groovy 1970s in Malaysia, where we meet Vash, a rebellious policewoman who stands […]

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BOY KILLS WORLD: Bill Skarsgård Toplines SA Shoot For Dystopian Actioner With Samara Weaving and Yayan Ruhian

Lee B. Golden III

Bill Skarsgård is set to lead Boy Kills World from debut director Moritz Mohr. Arend Remmers (Sløborn) and Tyler Burton Smith (Kung Fury: The Movie) penned the script which also brings actress Samara Weaving, and international action star Yayan Ruhian. Bill Skarsgard (Deadpool 2, It Chapter Two) will lead the cast as protagonist Boy, a deaf mute with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, he escapes to the jungle and is trained by a mysterious shaman to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death. Also attached are Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Bill and Ted Face the Music), who will play assassin June 27, and martial arts expert Yayan Ruhian (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, The Raid: Redemption), who will be Boy’s mentor. Tom Grater’s Deadline exclusive on Thursday bills the film as a “dystopian fever dream” which will be shot in South Africa. Mohr’s own […]

ACCIDENT MAN Sequel Adds Directors, Lands November Start Date In Malta

Lee B. Golden III

Just over two years since signaling fans with sequel hopes for his 2018 graphic novel adaptation, Accident Man, plans are officially underway for starring actor Scott Adkins to shoot the new chapter entirely in Malta this November. Film duo George and Harry Kirby will make their feature directing debut on the project with Sony Entertainment and Six Demon Films back to produce the sequel. Casting details beyond Adkins remain pending. “We both feel very lucky to be in this position and want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped us to get to this point!” said Harry Kirby in a social media statement on Monday. “This is literally a dream come true!” Accident Man co-scribe Stu Small was last attached to pen the script for the sequel back in 2019 to follow up to Jesse V. Johnson’s inaugural adaptation. The first film is based on the […]

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Legendary Hong Kong Actor Anthony Wong’s Lastest Project Needs Your Help

Anthony Wong (aka Wong Chau-Sang/ Anthony Perry) is a familiar face to lovers of classic Hong Kong cinema. Whether it’s due to facing off with Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung in John Woo’s two-fisted tale of bullet-ridden mayhem “Hard Boiled”, as a noble policeman in (the film that inspired Scorsese’s “The Departed”) “Infernal Affairs”, as the murderous psychopath in “The Untold Story”, or literally hundreds of other roles- Wong is a bonafide legend of that once great film industry. As you may know though, due to increased control (and censorship) from the mainland Chinese government, it is nearly impossible to get any film projects funded in Hong Kong. It has been even harder for Wong who has lost much of his acting opportunities due to his strong support of the pro-democracy protests that have occurred in Hong Kong the past few years. Things became so dire for him that he […]

FIGHT PRIDE: ‘Lionheart’ Director Gears Up For Upcoming Fight Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Director Sheldon Lettich confirmed his involvement with action thriller, Fight Pride, in a recent string of interview clips with Viking Samurai channel host, David Kurzhal, on YouTube. Lettich noted that development started when a group of people he’d never worked with before contacted him. “It’s sort of in the vein of Lionheart, so you can see why want me to direct it,” Lettich told Kurzhal, citing the script’s 80s/90s vibe. “It’s a good script,” Lettich continued, adding further news that he is currently circling a cast roster that includes Daniel Stisen (Last Man Down), Michael Paré (South Of Heaven) and Randy Couture (The Hard Way). Penned by Erik V. Wolter, Fight Pride is billed as a drama that takes its cues from Eugene O’Neill’s classic stage play, “The Hairy Ape”. The story centers on Yank, and takes you on “a dramatic, character driven journey of self-discovery of a societal outcast […]

WARRIORS: Gavin O’Connor, Lionsgate Will Return To The Octagon To Spin-Off His 2011 Cult MMA Hit Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Director Gavin O’Connor is partnering with Lionsgate for a television spin-off based on 2011 sports drama, Warrior. O’Connor, whose credits also include Miracle and The Way Back, confirmed as much in an interview with Discussing Film’s Michael Slavin on Tuesday. The reveal for the new show, Warriors, came during a portion of the interview regarding movie sequel prospects where O’Connor expressed having difficulty on “how to do it and make it better than the first one”, adding further on “…I knew if I couldn’t make a better movie, or at least make something that had some kind of artistic merit that’s worth asking people to spend money to go see it, I just didn’t want to like fucking prostitute myself. And so I never was able to…” O’Connor continued onward, laying the groundwork for the show’s plot and citing that the characters from the 2011 film would be replaced with […]

THE EXPENDABLES 4 Shoots Up A Fall Production Start, Adds Megan Fox, Tony Jaa And More

Lee B. Golden III

Eleven years since making trilogy headway, The Expendables franchise will reunite Lionsgate and Millenium Media to shoot its fourth installment later this October with much of the main cast reprising its roles; Jason Statham is reportedly leading the cast this time around and will be joined by Megan Fox as the female lead, with regulars Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Sylvester Stallone, Statham’s Furious Seven cohort/martial arts action star star Tony Jaa, and Stallone’s Escape Plan co-star Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson also starring. Stuntman-turned-director Scott Waugh (Need For Speed) is in line for rotation to direct following Stallone, and helmers Simon West and Patrick Hughes who directed the first, second and third films respectively. Waugh will direct from a screenplay Spenser Cohen, following revisions by Max Adams and John Joseph Connolly, with Statham and with Kevin King Templeton, and Millennium’s Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner, Jeffrey Greenstein and Jonathan Yunger all producing, […]

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THE OLD GUARD 2 Taps ‘Star Wars’ Vet Victoria Mahoney

Lee B. Golden III

History-making second unit director Victoria Mahoney will helm the sequel to Gina Prince-Bythewood’s own 2020 adaptation of Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández’s Image Comics publication, The Old Guard. As the trades reported and Netflix confirmed, Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo and Chiwetel Ejiofor are all expected to reprise their roles. Mahoney will direct from a script by returning writer Rucka who will also exec produce, following up on the story of Nile Freeman (Layne), a U.S. Marine who finds herself thrust into an epic war as part of a covert squad of mysterious, centuries-old immortal warriors led by Andromache (Theron). Theron will also produce next to Beth Kono and AJ Dix over at their Denver and Delilah banner, alongside Marc Evans for Marc Evans Productions, and Prince-Bythewood, and Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger. Mahoney is credited as the first woman and […]

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MY HERO ACADEMIA: Shinsuke Sato Announced To Direct Live Action Adaptation For Legendary

Edward Orndorff

As reported by The Wrap, the director for the upcoming Legendary Films adaption of the My Hero Academia franchise has been named. Japanese director Shinsuke Sato will be heading up the film that was announced in 2018. One of the most well known filmmakers from Japan, Sato is experienced with handling shonen anime adaptions. having previously handled the well received adaption of Tite Kubo’s Bleach manga series. He was most recently praised for the film “Kingdom” which was released in 2019, and 2020’s “Alice in Borderland” from Netflix. My Hero Academia is a manga series that currently runs in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan, published by Shueisha. Written by Horikoshi Kohei, since it’s 2014 debut My Hero Academia has become an international hit. The manga has over 50 million volumes in circulation and has won numerous awards and high popularity poll rankings, movies, video games, and a wealth of […]

RONNY CHIENG

Ronny Chieng, Sony Developing San Francisco-Set Martial Arts Comedy

Lee B. Golden III

Comedian and actor Ronny Chieng is one of the funniest funnymen ever to hit the airwaves. That he’s also stepping into the martial arts comedy genre now seems pretty damn enticing with word via THR‘s Mia Galuppo. Chieng, whose credits partly include Crazy Rich Asians, Bliss at Amazon, and upcoming Marvel’s Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings starring Simu Liu and Tony Leung, is teaming up with The Daily Show cohort Sebastian DiNatale to pen the untitled comedy for Sony, which the studio’s Jiao Chen is reportedly overseeing. Just as there is no title though, plot details are also being kept under wraps. The idea for the project initially originated at a roundtable hosted by Chieng and run by Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Picture Company, as well as Sony. Reitman is on board to produce via his Montecito banner with Amie Karp.

X VENGEANCE: JuJu Chan Szeto Leads Australian Action Thriller Shooting This Fall

Lee B. Golden III

Antony Szeto (Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu) will direct Aussie action thriller, X Vengeance. The film was announced over the weekend at the Cannes Marché du Film by Ken DuBow for US-based Access Entertainment. As Jeremy Kay’s report via Screen notes, the film marks an on-set reunion for the director actress and martial arts star JuJu Chan Szeto (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny). Their previous credits include Szeto’s Palace Of The Damned (2013) and Roger Corman’s Fist Of The Dragon (2014). Plot details are under wraps save for what Kay’s report states of the film’s setting which is in “north Queensland’s beaches and rainforests”. Also starring are Australian-Chinese actor Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians, Roger Corman’s Fist Of The Dragon) and Robert Mammone (The Condemned), with cameras set to roll this October ahead of a Spring 2022 rollout. Madd Films’ Tim Maddocks and Filmworks’ Janice Eymann are producing with […]

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Dwayne Johnson Holiday Actioner RED ONE Set Up At Amazon Studios

Lee B. Golden III

Slated to shoot next year is Red One, an original project from Seven Bucks Production’s own Hiram Garcia and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the latter who will topline for Amazon Studios, according to multiple trade sources. Both will be joined by Seven Bucks founding partner Dany Garcia in producing. Chris Morgan (Universal’s The Fast Saga) is tapped to pen the film described as a “globe-trotting, four-quadrant action-adventure comedy” which imagines “a whole new universe to explore within the holiday genre.” according to Variety‘s Brent Lang. The film is expected to release in time for the 2023 Holiday season. “Seven Bucks Productions is a leader in creating unique and compelling entertainment for the entire family, and we know Red One will continue that tradition,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “Hiram’s concept and the world he’s envisioned are uniquely original and we are so excited to team with Seven Bucks Productions and […]

ABRAHAM’S BOYS: Natasha Kermani To Adapt Action Horror Tale From Joe Hill’s Short Story

Lee B. Golden III

Got an affinity for Bram Stoker’s Dracula and fond of director Natasha Kermani? The Imitation Girl helmer’s latest, Lucky, is currently streaming on Shudder for those keen to see what the director’s applications are like as we venture onto her latest development: An adaptation of Joe Hill’s 2004 short story, Abraham’s Boys, for the big screen. The plot follows Max and Rudy Van Helsing, who know nothing of their father Abraham’s past and cannot understand his overprotective attitude and strange behavior. To make matters worse, Abraham is becoming increasingly more unhinged, paranoid, and violent. Kermani’s adaptation is set to explore the boys’ trauma through the eyes of a young Asian woman who is no stranger to death. We were fortunate to score a look at Kermani’s Lucky during its festival run for review. By comparison, I can definitely assert Kermani’s ability to increase a story’s intensity, and with a full-dive […]

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KATZENJAMMER: Stuntman/Filmmaker Eric Jacobus Outlines His New Venture With Animated Action Comedy [EXCLUSIVE]

Lee B. Golden III

Independent filmmaker Eric Jacobus is currently in early, albeit deep development with action comedy feature, Katzenjammer. The film, which was announced back in February in a since deleted Facebook post, signals a major pivot for Jacobus into the animation arena where he will apply his longtime craft in filmmaking, action and stunts for the first time. Katzenjammer will center on Lester Katz, an electric violin virtuoso bent on rescuing his childhood sweetheart, pop idol Vanessa from the evil clutches of a major studio that now claims her as its most-prized commodity. To accomplish this, he enlists the help of his adopted father, Abe, in order to infiltrate the studio by competing in its fierce audition system. In doing so, when his own burgeoning success puts him face to face with the studio’s dark underbelly, Lester must contend with his own long lost fame and recognition as an orphan, and is […]

THE ATROCITIES: ’12 Hour Shift’ Director Launches New Screen Adaptation For The Squirrels Production Outfit

Lee B. Golden III

Actress and filmmaker Brea Grant caused a stir this past year generating buzz with harrowing thrillers like 12 Hour Shift and starring in Natasha Kermani’s cyclic and nightmaring feminist home invasion romp, Lucky. As of late, Fangoria was first to report and with the rest of us now able to get the word out on her latest venture with writer/producer/director Ed Dougherty (Paint It Black, 7 Witches), optioning the rights to Jeremy C. Shipp’s horror novella The Atrocities. The move signals a launchpad for joint venture, The Squirrels, under Grant and Dougherty. The two are penning the script with Grant making her return to the director’s chair, adapting the story of “Danna, a modern-day governess who works for the elite and is summoned to Stockton House to tutor a young girl named Isabella Evers. Upon arriving, she realizes her new charge has already passed away, but the girl’s parents insist […]

BERZERKER: ‘Paskal’ And ‘Wira’ Star Hairul Azreen To Headline Ranjeet S. Marwa’s New Thriller Shooting This Summer [EXCLUSIVE]

Lee B. Golden III

Three months since the announcement of pre-production for futuristic crime thriller, Berzerker, Film Combat Syndicate can confirm the casting of Malaysian actor and action star Hairul Azreen to lead Ranjeet S. Marwa’s new film. Azreen will play Noble, an ex-con who now walks as a free man, seeking revenge on those responsible for his incarceration. Marwa himself describes the overall tone and vision of the film as a unique blend of sci-fi classic, Blade Runner, and Prachya Pinkaew’s 2003 Thai barnburner martial arts flick, Ong-Bak. Berzerker has been in pre-production since March with Marwa set to direct from a script he wrote with co-scribe Daniel White. Principal photography will begin in Birmingham this July. Manchester-based stunt professional Kiran Pandé (Redcon-1) has been on board the project since late March and will now serve as the film’s fight choreographer. Azreen is considered an A-lister among the current crop of film talents […]

BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Signals New Animated Series From Matt Reeves, J.J. Abrams And Bruce Timm

Lee B. Golden III

Unless you’ve had your Batman fill, there’s more to come from the world of the Dark Knight set in Gotham. HBO Max and Cartoon Network are officially in tow for a straight-to-series order for Batman: Caped Crusader, an all-new animated series and reimagining of the Batman mythology. The new animated series will be exec produced by Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation (WBA), Bad Robot Productions and 6th & Idaho. “It is always fun to feed the insatiable appetite fans have for all things Batman.” said Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC). “Batman: Caped Crusader will entertain first time and die-hard fans alike and, with such an impressive creative team in place, we know we have another future Batman classic in the making.” Batman: Caped Crusader represents Timm’s return to the iconic DC character in animated episodic television, which began with the […]