Casting

THE OLD GUARD: ‘M:I – Fallout’, ‘Street Fighter’ Actor Joey Ansah Joins Netflix/Skydance Novel Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

I am told by a source close to production that actor Joey Ansah will next appear in director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Netflix graphic novel adaptation, The Old Guard. The Charlize Theron-headliner is based on the titular novel series created by author Greg Rucka and illustrator Leandro Fernández. The Old Guard tells the story of a small covert group of immortal mercenaries led by weary assassin, Andy (Theron). Still, the group must fight to keep their team together when they discover the existence of a new immortal and their extraordinary abilities are exposed. Details on Ansah’s role are unclear. His credits include The Bourne Ultimatum, Snow White and The Huntsman, Green Street 3: Never Back Down, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and Aladdin. He is also a director and actor best known for his prolific efforts at shepherding webseries/feature fighting game adaptation, Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, and go90 miniseries, Street Fighter: Resurrection. The […]

PicsArt_07-22-05.56.24.png

THE LAST DUEL: Ridley Scott To Direct 14th Century Revenge Novel Adaptation, Affleck And Damon To Star

Lee B. Golden III

Mike Fleming Jr. is reporting at Deadline with an exclusive on director Ridley Scott’s latest efforts to fast-track an adaptation of Eric Jager’s 2004 novel, “The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France”. The film will be titled The Last Duel, which Scott will also produce at Scott Free with partner Kevin Walsh. Actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will star, and are producing via their Pearl Street banner, as well as writing the script with Nicole Holofcener. The film takes place in 14th century France and focused its dark and violent tale on Norman knight Jean de Carrouges who returns from war and learns his wife, Marguerite de Carrouges, has been raped by former friend, squire Jacques Le Gris, who denies the allegations. No one believes de Carrouges wife for whom the paternity of her pregnancy is now in question. Following an appeal to […]

PicsArt_07-21-05.10.23.png

SDCC 2019: Marvel Hails BLADE Reboot Prospects With Mahershala Ali

Lee B. Golden III

For years fans wondered if or when actor Wesley Snipes would reclaim the role of hit comic book action horror franchise, Blade. On Saturday night, the conversation changed drastically at SDCC with the announcement of actor Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Alita Battle Angel) set to star. Visually upgraded from its 1973 comic book likeness by author Marv Wolfman and illustrator Gene Colan, the Blade franchise took off in 1998 under director Stephen Norrington with Snipes starring in the title role, a modern day dhampir (a semi-human with vampire genes) waging a vengeful age-old one-man war against vampires. Snipes produced all three films with Guillermo del Toro sitting in for the 2002 sequel, Blade 2, while franchise screenwriter David S. Goyer sat in for the third, Blade: Trinity (2004), which suffered more critically and controversially despite the trilogy’s overall commercial success. Following the character’s short stint in a live-action TV and seperate […]

PicsArt_07-20-09.06.28.png

SDCC 2019: SHANG-CHI Gets Its Star, Title And 2021 Release Date

Lee B. Golden III

Marvel is officially announcing a February 12, 2021 for Daniel Deston Cretton’s Marvel adaptation, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Adding to Saturday’s fervor over at Marvel’s Hall H panel with Kevin Feige at San Diego Comic Con is the official casting of actor Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience) for the title role. Specific plot details remain pending whilst Dave Callaham (The Expendables trilogy, Wonder Woman 1984) pens the script. The Hu’nan province-born superhuman, versatile martial arts hero, among several incarnations hailing as the brainchild of creators Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, launched in 1973 in time for the kung fu craze brought on by the popularity of Bruce Lee’s Enter The Dragon. Also starring will be Crazy Rich Asians actress Akwafina and The Grandmaster star Tony Leung Ka-Fai who will portray the re al Mandarin in place of Ben Kingsley who portrayed an imposter in Iron Man […]

KATE Adds Woody Harrelson For Netflix Action Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Cathy Yan’s Birds Of Prey is well on the way for Mary Elizabeth Winstead who still has Netflix in her sights with upcoming action thriller, Kate. She’ll be joined by three-time Academy Award Nominee Woody Harrelson (The Highwaymen, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Solo: A Star Wars Story) for the Cedric Nicolas-Troyan-directed film. Umair Aleem wrote the script which centers on a ruthless criminal operative who has less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her enemies after being irreversibly poisoned. In the process forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her past victims. Bryan Unkeless (I, Tonya, Bright, Birds of Prey), Kelly McCormick (Deadpool 2, the upcoming Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) and Patrick Newall (Dhaka, The Old Man And The Gun) are producing with David Leitch and Scott Morgan exec producing. Stunt multi-hypenate Jonathan Eusebio (John Wick franchise, upcoming Birds of Prey, Black […]

PicsArt_07-19-11.20.26.png

ARMY OF THE DEAD Now Filming, Adds Four More To The Cast

Lee B. Golden III

Cameras are officially rolling in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Watchmen, Man Of Steel and Dawn Of The Dead helmer Zack Snyder’s new Netflix action horror, Army Of The Dead. Actors Omari Hardwick (Power, Sorry to Bother You), Chris D’Elia (You, Man on Fire), Garret Dillahunt (Widows, No Country For Old Men) and Samantha Win (Arrow, Justice League) join the cast led by Stuber star Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi and Huma Qureshi. Storied by Snyder who penned the script with Joby Harold and Shay Hatten, the film centers on a band of mercenaries who set out to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted as a zombie outbreak fully underway in Las Vegas. Also starring are Hiroyuki Sanada (Avengers: Endgame, Westworld, Minamata), Matthias Schweighöfer (You Are Wanted, Resistance), Raúl Castillo (We The Animals, Vida), Nora Arnezeder (Maniac, Mozart in the Jungle) and Rich Cetrone (Batman […]

MICKEY KELLEY: Actor/BJJ Blackbelt Sean Patrick Flanery To Lead MMA Drama For Forrest Films

Lee B. Golden III

Forrest Films is currently on deck for a Fantasia premiere of Shaun Piccinino’s new underground fight drama, American Fighter. That premiere stars George Kosturos and kicks off later this month and I have a review in store for that one coming very soon after its premiere. That film co-stars actor and martial artist Sean Patrick Flanery (Sinners & Saints, Eye See You, The Boondock Saints) who will soon star in the title role for Forrest Films’s next endevaor, Mickey Kelley, according to Deadline‘s Andreas Wiseman. The film is reportedly in pre-production and will be directed by Alex Ranarivelo who helmed Kosturos’s predecessor, American Wrestler: The Wizard, and penned Mickey Kelley with Flanery. Set in 1990, the film follows Mickey Kelley (Flanery), one of the first American black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned MMA tournament, where his dreams of providing […]

MARIA 2: Yayan Ruhian And Cecep Arif Rahman Circling Cristine Reyes Action Sequel [EXCLUSIVE]

Lee B. Golden III

Director Pedring Lopez is setting up to return to the helm for Maria 2 with a spritely roster of Indonesian talent with Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman. The sequel brings lead actress Christine Reyes and director Pedring Lopez back into the fold once more for a late 2019 production start. Reyes penned a new chapter in her sixteen-year screen career with Maria from Viva Films, making her action-packed genre debut for local moviegoers back in March. The inaugural female-fronted thriller was written by Yz Carbonell and Rex Lopez, and stars Reyes as a former Black Rose cartel hitwoman forced back into the underworld to avenge her family with the help of her mentor, Sir Greg, played by Ronnie Lazaro. Character and plot details are otherwise pending for the sequel which currently stands midway of what Lopez cited, in a February interview with The Fanboy SEO, as a trilogy for […]

Joe Taslim to play Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat

MORTAL KOMBAT: Joe Taslim Covets The Role Of Sub-Zero

Lee B. Golden III

The Night Comes For Us star Joe Taslim is first on the roster to be cast for Simon McQuoid’s upcoming Mortal Kombat film as key character, Sub-Zero. Production is officially slated to kick off later this year in South Australia. Movement on the film comes years since New Line launched its own live-action films in 1995 and 1997, followed by a TV series, an animated series, and a twebseries from Warner Bros. Digital shepherded by Kevin Tancharoen and Garrett Warren. James Wan is producing with Todd Garner, and with Larry Kasanoff, E. Bennett Walsh, Michael Clear and Sean Robins exec producing. Greg Russo penned the script based on the hit 1992 game which has maintained its shelf life to date with new installments. Taslim, best known for successes in film in television like The Raid franchise, Furious 6 and season two-bound Cinemax series, Warrior, is the latest actor to don […]

PicsArt_07-08-06.47.25.png

RED NOTICE: Netflix Takes Notice With 2020 Start For Johnson/Gadot/Reynolds Headliner

Lee B. Golden III

The filmmakers behind upcoming action film production, Red Notice, have landed the project a new home at Netflix according to a Deadline exclusive on Monday. Universal Pictures originally acquired the film in an intense bidding war late last year before dating it for release next November. Production reportedly sensed hesitation and saw a window ten days ago whereupon they introduced the film’s finished script to the streamer. According to Mike Fleming Jr., Netflix affirmed its commitment to the production in multiple aspects, from up-front salaries and backend, to a budget of up to $130 million dollars. Red Notice signals the streamer’s biggest star package to date with a cast that reteams Dwayne Johnson with director Rawson Marshall Thurber following Central Intelligence and Skyscraper. Joining the cast are Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot with a script by Thurber – billed as international action thriller that spans a globetrotting pursuit of the […]

ESCAPE: ‘The Battleship Island’ Director Plots 90s-Set Somalian Civil War Survival Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Celebrated director Ryoo Seung-Wan (Arahan, The City Of Violence) will make way for Morocco later this year to shoot action film, working titled Escape. Actors Kim Yun-Seok (The Priests) and Zo In-Sung (The Great Battle) are in talks to star in the 1990s-set thriller which centers on a daring attempt by North and South Korean embassy workers to flee the Somalian Civil War conflict. Actor Huh Joon-Ho (Default, Illang: The Wolf Brigade) has already officially joined the cast according to Pierce Conran’s coverage over at KOFIC. Filmmaker R & K, Ryoo’s shared production outfit with Kang Hae-Jung and home to hits like The Unjust, Veteran and The Battleship Island, will produce the new action thriller along with Dexter Studios (Along With The Gods franchise). Ryoo’s resumé, much like that of filmmakers Kim Jee-Woon, Park Jung-Woo and Bong Joon-Ho as of late, is proven collective body of work that’s become signature […]

FilleChé-2274_08

BAC NORD: French Crime Thriller Shoots In August From ‘The Man With The Iron Heart’ Director

Lee B. Golden III

Director Cedric Jimenez (The Man With The Iron Heart) is reportedly making some history with Studiocanal’s latest placement on upcoming crime thriller, Bac Nord. As Elsa Keslassy’s report at Variety notes, Gilles Lellouche (pictured) will lead the cast for a story centered on a police brigade that’s ventured into the dangerous northern neighborhood of Marseille, where crime levels are higher than anywhere else in France. Rounding out the cast is a roster of award-winning and nominated talent listing actors Francois Civil (Wolf’s Call) and Karim Leklou (The World Is Yours), and actresses Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Color) and Kenza Fortas (Shéhérazade). A Marseilles native, Jimenez co-penned the script in a collaborative effort with Audrey Diwan (The Connection, The Man With the Iron Heart) and Benjamin Charbit (En liberté!). Studiocanal has acquired all rights along with international sales and will serve to co-produce with France 2 Cinéma. Paris-based Hugo […]

Furie

THE OLD GUARD: Netflix/Skydance Media Graphic Novel Adaptation Adds Veronica Ngo And Chiwetel Ejiofor Among Trio To Cast

Lee B. Golden III

Trade news confirmed via Daily Mail the additions of a trio of actors for Gina Prince-Bythewood’s latest, The Old Guard. Production on the forthcoming graphic novel adaptation is based on the titular novel from Greg Rucka about a team of immortal mercenaries whose leader, Andy, played by Charlize Theron, wants a break from all the killing. Thursday’s report from Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye shares new details about the characters joining the fray hailing from Netflix and Skydance Media with actress Veronica Ngo, and actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Harry Melling. Rounding out the cast roster is actress KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli. Bythewood and Rucka penned the script Based on the graphic novel series created by author Greg Rucka and illustrator Leandro Fernández, The Old Guard tells the story of a small covert group of immortal mercenaries who must fight to keep their team together when they […]

KILLER’S GAME Targets Ice Cube To Join Dave Bautista Assassin Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Ice Cube is reportedly negotiating to star opposite actor Dave Bautista in D.J. Caruso’s upcoming adaptation of Jay Bonansinga’s 1997 novel, Killer’s Game. The project, according to Mike Fleming Jr. at Deadline, marks the latest development following 20 years of languishing between hands of studios and directors who’ve passed it up, including Jason Statham. Bautista, who was cast back in April, will star as Joe Flood, a principled veteran assassin who learns he is dying. Thinking his days are numbered and refusing suicide as it goes against his Catholic principles, he stakes a multi-million dollar prize on his own life, only to realize that he’s been misdiagnosed and is still in perfect health. Now he’s forced into a breakneck fight for survival against hungry gamesmen out for blood and a six-figure boost. Cube, as the report elucidates, will play one of the gamesmen who will hunt Flood down until game […]

PicsArt_06-19-08.44.33.jpg

Henry Golding Lines Up In-House Action Film Productions HARRINGTON’S GREATEST HITS And THE INHERITANCE

Lee B. Golden III

Crazy Rich Asians and upcoming The Gentlemen actor Henry Golding is taking the producers’ mantle for a pair of action projects. Both hail from the launch of his newly-established Long House Productions according to Mia Galuppo and Rebecca Ford at THR. First up starring Golding is Harrington’s Greatest Hits from a reimagined Black List script by Dutch Southern. The film tells of an elite, aging assassin who finds himself marked for death by the arms-dealing father of a former target. Veteran TV director James Strong (Amazon’s Vanity Fair, Broadchurch) will sit at the helm. Producers include Damian Jones at DJ Films and Kelly McCormick and David Leitch at 87North with Annie Marter exec producing, and U.K.’s Great Point Media providing development financing. Golding is also slated to star in and produce The Inheritance, based on an idea from himself and screenwriter Alistair Hudson. The projects are enjoined in a new […]

CHINATOWN EXPRESS: Iko Uwais Boards New Action Thriller From Er Dong And Hollywood Gang

Lee B. Golden III

This year’s 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival is currently surfacing a raft of delicacies in film partnerships, specifically including Er Dong Pictures as it unveiled its new film and television strategy with Gersh Agency on hand. Next to a forthcoming remake of Don Lee starrer The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil with producer Sylvester Stallone and the pitch/launch of Tony Jaa headliner, Silent, among others, the company is also shepherding the return of action star and actor Iko Uwais for Chinatown Express. Yalun Tu is penning the script with Zach Hines for the story of a man who infiltrates New York City’s criminal underworld to save his family after his son disappears during a gang killing. Hollywood Gang Productions’ own Gianni Nunnari is producing with Uwais, and producer Ricky Siahaan. A director remains yet to be officially attached aside from what any rumors may suggest until further notice. Uwais’ continual […]

Michael Fassbender in 2015

MALKO: Michael Fassbender Lines Up Action Spy Thriller Novel Adaptation At Lionsgate

Lee B. Golden III

Soon to stake his claim in Kung Fury 2: The Movie, actor Michael Fassbender is officially tapped to star in another hopeful franchise outing, Malko. The project is officially housed at Lionsgate as of Tuesday with the studio further acquiring the rights to Gerard de Villier’s string of best-selling espionage thrillers titled S.A.S., from which de Villier’s 1973 publication, Checkpoint Charlie, has been chosen first on the studio’s menu. The S.A.S. franchise follows the singular hero, Malko Linge, an Austrian nobleman and freelance CIA operative who spent his formative years in a special Nazi work camp for captured spies. Malko learned the intricate dark arts of tradecraft from the best. Now, an adult living in a reclaimed family manor fallen into disrepair, Malko becomes a spy for hire. He is the ultimate agent without an agency – a gentleman warrior without a country who works according to his own moral […]

PicsArt_06-17-01.50.27.png

FOX HUNT: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai And Yihong Duan To Star In The Global Anti-Corruption Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Raiders trilogy and The Grandmaster star Tony Leung Chiu-Wai will star along with Extraordinary Mission actor Yihong Duan in Fox Hunt, billed as a ripped-from-the-headlines police action thriller being produced by the state-backed Shanghai Film Group. Variety‘s Patrick Frater reports that Fox Hunt is based on the real-life operation that launched in Summer 2014 as a global anti-corruption initiative steered by China’s Ministry of Public Security. The director’s position awaits filling while cameras will reportedly roll in France and China. …The operation seeks to find and repatriate Chinese people who have fled abroad to avoid accusations of corruption. The film is expected to show cross-border criminal proceedings and the use of Interpol’s so-called Red Notices… Frater also elucidates an interesting tidbit about the film’s existence in the wake of recent protests in Hong Kong over a recently-suspended government bill that would have allowed fugitives to be handed over to authorities […]

SILENT: Tony Jaa Boards New Action Thriller From ‘Triple Threat’ And ‘Polar’ Producers [EXCLUSIVE]

Lee B. Golden III

International action star, actor Tony Jaa (S.P.L. 2, Paradox, Triple Threat) is back in the habit once again with the forthcoming production of Silent. The news comes on the heels of Jaa’s latest officiated casting addition in Dimitri Logothetis’s Jiu-Jitsu with Alain Moussi, Nicolas Cage and JuJu Chan. Silent sees Jaa in the role of Aat, a reclusive, mute Thai restaurant delivery man with a violent and tragic past. His idyllic life is comprised of work and living at his sparse, quiet apartment with his cat, Tiger, and his only human companion is Sarah, the 12-year old daughter of a wealthy family for whom he regularly brings her favorite dish, Pad Thai. One evening he delivers an alternative order to the same address when a gun is suddenly put to his temple. With his killer instinct resurfaced, the two are swept into a race against time as Aat is forced […]

THE DIVISION: Leitch To Direct Upcoming Ubisoft Film Adaptation For Netflix

Lee B. Golden III

Active developments toward a live-action adaptation of the hit Ubisoft game, The Division, have been stirring moreso since 2016 with the casting of actor Jake Gyllenhaal and with stunt action feature hitmaker David Leitch tapped to direct just last Spring. Going forward, the word is out with Netflix announcing its acquisition of the feature film that now sets screenwriter Rafe Judkins to put pen-to-paper on the project. Joining Gyllenhaal to star and produce will be actress Jessica Chastain who will partake in the same capacity. In the near future, a pandemic virus is spread via paper money on Black Friday, decimating the city of New York and killing millions. By Christmas, what’s left of society has descended into chaos. A group of civilians, trained to operate in catastrophic times, are activated in an attempt to save who and what remains. Leitch’s 87North banner will produce alongside Gyllenhaal’s Nine Stories, Chastain’s […]