THE FORBIDDEN CITY Official Trailer Reveals ‘Mulan’ Stunt Double Yaxi Liu In Her Debut Lead Role
“Freaks Out” and “They Call Me Jeeg” helmer Gabriele Mainetti directs the romantic action drama opening in Italy on March 13.
Markets
THE BLACK DEMON: ATLANTIS Casts Up Shark Thriller Sequel For May Shoot From ‘El Chicano’ Director
Highland Film Group is handling worldwide sales at EFM.
BEAST IN ME Shows Its Teeth In New Stills From The MMA Drama Starring Russell Crowe And Daniel MacPherson
Production also reunites director Tyler Atkins with “Bosch & Rockit” star Luke Hemsworth and “Life After Fighting” star, actor and martial artist Bren Foster.
FUZE: Anton Lands Key Sales Ahead Of Berlin For New Action Crime Thriller
FUZE stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James and is directed by David Mackenzie.
MUZZLE: CITY OF WOLVES Reveals First Look At Aaron Eckhart In New Action Crime Sequel; Highland Lands Multiple Sales
Highland Film Group is in Berlin for their international sales slate which also includes upcoming action crime sequel, Muzzle: City Of Wolves, following its recent production wrap in South Africa. Golden Globe-nominee and Independent Spirit Award-winner Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, The Bricklayer, Sully), reprises his role from the first film, and can be seen in a first look photo newly released as of Thursday. Muzzle: City Of Wolves reunites Eckhart with John Stalberg Jr., who also directed the first installment. Haunted by PTSD from his days as a K-9 officer, Jake Rosser (Eckhart) endeavors to lead a peaceful life with his family and retired K-9 companion, Socks. But the tranquility quickly dissolves when a ruthless gang targets them in a brutal attack. Determined to protect his loved ones, Jake and his new K-9 partner Argos delve into a violent underbelly of crime where Jake confronts corrupt officials, uncovers a […]
[UPDATED] NEON BLOOD: Iko Uwais Reteams With Timo Tjahjanto For Indonesian Action Thriller, XYZ Leading EFM Sales
NEON BLOOD will be at the upcoming EFM in Berlin next week with XYZ Films launching world sales.
MONITOR: Brittany O’Grady Joins High-Concept Horror Planning March Shoot
Protagonist Pictures launched the new project at AFM late last year and will continue with international sales at EFM in Berlin next week.
DIE BY NIGHT Adds Trio For Creature Survival Thriller As Protagonist Launches Sales Ahead Of EFM
Ben Hardy, Isabelle Fuhrman, and Scoot McNairy are starring in the new creature survival flick from the director of BLOOD FOR DUST.
Hollywood Storm Circles Adrian Paul, Sheldon Lettich And More As Label Ferments Production Slate Ahead Of EFM
Actor and producer Alexander Nevsky is ramping up a trio of titles on Hollywood Storm roster ahead of EFM in February, two of which are set to go into production in 2025. The slate includes the long-awaited Savage Attack, which has been in development since roughly 2017, with Last Heroes Of Rio Bravo set to complete his Rio Bravo trilogy with co-star/director Joe Cornet back at the helm, as well as upcoming Western actioner, The Wide West. Savage Attack is billed as “The Raid meets Die Hard”, in a story centered on a CIA operative who must save his former mentor from an insane asylum besieged by hired killers. Nevsky will star alongside Nick Baillie (Malicious), Tatiana Neva (Taken from Rio Bravo) and Cornet. Highlander franchise mainstay Adrian Paul is also circling the project in a potential reunion with Nevsky since Art Camacho and Andrey Bogatyrev’s 2019’s historical sports drama, […]
TIMUR And IKATAN DARAH Announced For Berlin As Iko Uwais Launches Uwais Pictures
Actor Iko Uwais has been reaching some increasingly newer peaks of late. The photo above, a still from his upcoming directorial debut, Timur, is just the latest first in a pending rollout of firsts hailing the martial arts star’s new production label, Uwais Pictures. Also in toe is martial arts thriller, Ikatan Darah (or Blood Bond), directed by Sidharta Tata who previously helmed TV dramas “Pertaruhan,” and action horror “Zona Merah”. Uwais and his team made the announcement at the Uwais Pictures Press Conference Launch & Slate Announcement event at XXI Plaza Senayan on Tuesday. Both films are part of a newly announced production slate under the Uwais Pictures banner, which itself specializes in fight choreography, action design and stunts. The label is set to launch the projects for the next edition of the European Film Market in Berlin which launches February 13. Timur is an action-thriller that follows the […]
ABSOLUTE DOMINION: Giant Takes Dystopian Martial Arts Thriller For U.S. Release And World Sales Ahead Of Berlin
Nearly three years since the announcement of Lexi Alexander’s new dystopian martial arts thriller, Absolute Dominion, we now have word from Deadline’s Andreas Wiseman on its acquisition on Monday by Giant Pictures. The company will also handle its international sales when the EFM launches in Berlin in February. Absolute Dominion takes place In the year 2063 AD, when the world faces catastrophe as zealots and extremists wage a global holy war in the name of spiritual superiority. In a desperate attempt to save humanity from itself, the world’s governing bodies vote to establish ‘The Battle of Absolute Dominion,’ a fierce martial-arts tournament that will determine a champion whose faith will govern humanity and restore peace for the future. Désiré Mia stars in the film along with Alex Winter and Patton Oswalt. Rounding out the cast are Alok Vaid-Menon, Andy Allo, Jennifer Jajeh, Juliana Joel, Julie Ann Emery, June Carryl, Junes […]
THE WIDE WEST: Sumos And Gunslingers Collide In The Official Trailer
It’s been a week of deals and filmfare for any and all on the ground at AFM and that especially goes for Hollywood Storm whose Alexander Nevsky has been on deck with his latest Western romp, The Wide West, which is due for a 2025 release. Joe Cornet (A Prayer for the Damned) directs from a script by Craig Hamann (Showdown in Manila) with three-time Mr. Universe himself, Nevsky (Gunfight at Rio Bravo) joined by Sumo Champions Hiroki Sumi (John Wick: Chapter 4) and Ichi (Ballerina). 1907. The first-ever sumo delegation from Japan, led by Sumo Legends, travels through the United States to Washington D.C. to meet with President Theodore Roosevelt. When the train is stopped for track repairs, they have to stop in a dangerous Western town, where trouble awaits. Also starring are Cornet, and actors Nick Baillie (Malicious), Tatiana Neva (Prey of Wrath), and Kaz Kobayashi (Baragaki: Unbroken […]
ZEUS: Highland Ramps Up Creature Feature With David Blue Garcia To Direct
David Blue Garcia (Netflix and Legendary’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Tejano) is directing Mucho Mas Media’s upcoming horror-thriller, Zeus. Highland Film Group is handling worldwide rights to the horror-thriller and launching sales at the American Film Market. Zeus follows a group of friends in their early 20s being terrorized by a Cane Corso during a lakeside holiday celebration. Blue Garcia is directing from a script written by Tate Hanyok (The Pet-Nup) and Shane McKenzie (Prime Video’s Bingo Hell), which promises to “introduce a new killer monster into the canon of terrifying predators including “Jaws,” “Cujo,” and even Michael Myers!,” according to the announcement. Javier Chapa (The Black Demon, The Long Game, Rosario) is producing for Mucho Mas Media, with Phillip Braun (Rosario, The Long Game) also exec producing, as are Robert Muñoz, Morgan Cano-Long, Simon Wise, Vincent Cordero, Bruce Barshop, and Highland CEO Arianne Fraser, and COO Delphine Perrier. Production is […]
STRIKING RESCUE: Well Go USA Snaps Chinese Action Thriller Starring Tony Jaa
Chinese actioner Striking Rescue is getting a theatrical release in the U.S. from Well Go USA. The Youku-produced actioner releases in the mainland through streaming service Youku this week featuring global martial arts star Tony Jaa. Directed by Cheng Siyi, the action revenge movie follows An Bai (Jaa), a veteran Muay Thai expert who goes on a take-no-prisoners mission of revenge after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered by mysterious forces. THR‘s Patrick Brzeski notes the film is the first in an effort for Youku’s planned expansion into theatrical releases for international markets. The film also stars Shi Yanneng, Hong Junjia, Chen Duoyi, Philip Keung, and more. Check out the most recent promo below thanks to a reupload from user @shaolinjaa:
PROTECTOR: Milla Jovovich To Star In Action Thriller From ‘Rambo 5’ Director
Resident Evil franchise star Milla Jovovich is set to star in Protector, a new action thriller Rambo: Last Blood helmer from Adrian Grünberg. Production begins this winter in New Mexico and hails Highland Film Group which is co-financing and repping world sales at the AFM. Grünberg directs from a script by Bong-Seeb Mun, which stars Jovovich as Nikki, a former war hero, thought she’d left her violent past behind for a peaceful life with her daughter, Chloe. That peace is shattered when Nikki awakens bound in an abandoned factory, only to discover that Chloe has been kidnapped. Quickly escaping, Nikki plunges into the city’s criminal underworld and in her quest to find Chloe, she draws the attention of both the police and the military, shooting her to the top of the most wanted list. But the deeper she goes, the more she uncovers a shocking truth that threatens everything she’s […]
DEDICATION: Daisy Ridley Headlines New Martin Campbell Action Thriller For Q2 2025 Shoot
Daisy Ridley (the Star Wars franchise, Young Woman and the Sea, Magpie) will star in Dedication, a new action thriller from director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye). Highland Film Group is co-financing the pic and handling international sales at the AFM in Las Vegas this week, as production readies for a Spring 2025 shoot in the Philippines and Europe. Campbell will direct from a screenplay by Dan Gordon (Wyatt Earp, The Hurricane) which centers on Major Billie Jean Parker (Ridley), a decorated Marine Corps commander relieved of duty after a high-stakes mission in the Philippines results in civilian casualties, despite capturing anarchist leader Omar Romatas. Facing the loss of her career, she visits her dying father, Clyde, a former Marine, who asks her to attend a dedication ceremony for a school building named in his honor. The event takes a deadly turn when Omar Romatas’s vengeful son, Bento, launches an assault, taking hostages. Forced back into combat, Billie Jean sets traps and executes precise strikes […]
SIERRA MADRE: First Look Still Reveals Kiefer Sutherland In New Action Thriller, Additional Casting Announced
Emmy winner Kiefer Sutherland’s new action thriller, Sierra Madre, is making the rounds in Las Vegas this week with casting addition as of Tuesday. Production is underway in Colombia as well, with world sales firm Highland Film Group repping the film on the ground at AFM this week, showcasing a first look still from the film which you can view above. When Captain Jordan Wright (Kiefer Sutherland) and his squadron are granted leave from their mission to attend a crewmate’s wedding in Mexico, festivities are interrupted by a cartel’s murderous descent on the small village. As Jordan attempts to lead his remaining men to safety, war breaks out between his squad and the cartel. Now under siege in the enemy’s deadly stronghold, Jordan has no other option but to engage in a full-scale battle to save the only family he has. Also starring are renowned Mexican actor Omar Chaparro (Warner […]
MUROMACHI OUTSIDERS: Well Go Acquires Yu Irie’s Latest Samurai Uprising Actioner For 2025 Release
Great news is abound for anyone fond of jidaigeki films and Japanese cinema in whole. That at certainly goes for director Yu Irie whose latest, Muromachi Outsiders, has just been snapped by Well Go USA for North America. Muromachi Outsiders is Irie, and based on the 2016 Shincho Bunko series of novels from multi-award winning author, Ryosuke Kakine. The cast is led by actor Yo Oizumi in his first action role, here as the savvy, vagrant leader of an uprising against the violent and corrupt powers that be in 15th century Kyoto. The film also stars “Naniwa Danshi” member Kento Nagao, and actors Akira Emoto, Wakana Matsumoto, and Shinichi Tsutsumi, along with Yuya Endo, Tomoya Maeno, Ami 201, Hannya, and Rina Takeda, along with Shingo Mizusawa, Kazuki Kitamura, Okito Serizawa, and more. News of the acquisition comes just after Irie’s latest bit of ceremony at the Toyko International Film Festival where […]
PAINTER: Amber Midthunder And Alan Ritchson Topline Stunt Coordinator Garrett Warren’s Feature Debut
Painter is the name of the latest action franchise hopeful from stunt-multihyphenate Garrett Warren (Road House, God Is A Bullet, Logan) who will make his feature directing debut. John Wick penman Derek Kolstad will write the script for a cast led by Amber Midhunter, and Alan Ritchson, according to Deadline’s Andreas Wiseman who has more: Painter centers on a young woman, trained from a young age, who must employ every skill in her arsenal to rescue her father after he is kidnapped. Ritchson and Kolstad are just two of the producers listed for the film which FilmNation is taking to buyers at the American Film Market in November. That it’s a female-fronted endeavor with Midthunder leading makes it all but promising given the reception of Hulu hit “Predator” saga entry, Prey, which shot to acclaim among fans and critics. The same goes for Ritchson who is already gearing up for […]
SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT Readies For ACFM Buyers This Week
Nearly a decade since its announcement, Juno Mak’s new crime thriller, Sons Of The Neon Night, will finally have its day with buyers at the upcoming Asian Content & Film Market in Busan. Taiwan-based Distribution Workshop will rep international sales on the film which began filming in 2017 and wrapped the following year, followed by next to no movement despite at one point being announced for a 2019 release. Planned for a 2025 release, Sons Of The Neon Night is directed by Mak from his own script. It stars Takeshi Kaneshiro in a story set in a post-apocalyptic and snowed-in Hong Kong, where explosive gun battles and the murder of the leader of a global drug trafficking ring ignite a war to create a world without drugs. The film also stars Sean Lau, Tony Leung Ka-fai, along with Louis Koo and Ritchie Jen, Gao Yuanyuan, and Wyman Wong, and features […]