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Henry Cavill

HIGHLANDER: There Can Only Be Only One Henry Cavill As Chad Stahelski Casts His Star For The Reboot

Lee B. Golden III

Prolific stunt multi-hyphenate and filmmmaker Chad Stahelski has had his name thrown in the mix for a plethora of titles, whilst working to build what he’s helped contribute in the current four-part Keanu Reeves-led John Wick franchise for Lionsgate. Still, he’s remained steadfast with a promise to resurrect cult classic swordplay epic, Highlander, after landing the project in 2016, and so what with all the concern might be about whether or not it’s still happening, Deadline‘s Justin Kroll is here to confirm the movie announcing Henry Cavill (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Netflix’s The Witcher, Mission: Impossible – Fallout) as in talks for the reboot. Russell Mulcahy directed the 1986 Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery starrer, telling of a 16th-century Scotsman forged in the heat of battle as one in a diaspora of immortals, all drawn to battle each other for The Prize. His greatest battle then sees him living in […]

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WHITE ELEPHANT Adds John Malkovich And More To The Jesse V. Johnson Action Thriller Now In Production

Lee B. Golden III

Actor John Malkovich (Valley Of The Gods, Ava) leads an additional list of names joining Bruce Willis-led actioner, White Elephant. News of the film broke on Thursday through mainstream trade outlets also hailing actress Olga Kurylenko (The Courier) and Michael Rooker (The Suicide Squad) from a script by Erik Martinez, and action stalwart Jesse V. Johnson (Avengement, Triple Threat) who directs. The film, currently shooting in Georgia, also stars actor Vadhir Derbez (The Seventh Day), who plays Carl, a burgeoning assassin who botches his latest job, forcing his mentor, ex-marine-turned-mob enforcer Gabriel Tancredi (Willis) to mitigate his conscience and code of honor in order to set things right. The film also reteams Johnson with Debt Collectors co-stars Josef Cannon and Louie “Ski” Carr. Corey Large (Cosmic Sin, It Follows, The November Man, Lone Survivor) is producing the film for 308 Enterprises. The Exchange is handling international sales. Follow Johnson on Instagram for […]

AKILLA’S ESCAPE Gives Chase In The Official Trailer For Charles Officer’s Debut Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

After making several festival stops in Toronto, Santa Barbara and Atlanta, Charles Officer’s new crime thriller debut now runs amuck with excitement and danger for Akilla’s Escape. Vertical Entertainment acquired the pic last November, which stars Saul Williams, Thamela Mpumlwana, Donisha Rita and Claire Prendergast. Akilla Brown is forty-years-old and for the first time in his life, the clandestine cannabis grow operation he runs is legit. Only one year into government approved legalization, the pendulum of hypocrisy takes a toll and Akilla decides to cash out. While making a routine delivery on a cool, summer night, destiny takes an unexpected turn when Akilla confronts a firestorm of masked youths in an armed robbery. In the aftermath of the heist, Akilla captures one of the thieves, a mute fifteen-year-old boy named Sheppard. Upon learning the bandits are affiliated with the Garrison Army, a Jamaican crime syndicate his grandfather founded, Akilla is […]

Fantaspoa Review: HISTORY OF THE OCCULT

Christina Ortega

For the first time ever we here at Film Combat Syndicate had the privilege of covering the annual Fantaspoa Fantastic Film Festival. This is Brazil’s long-running fest and this year was number seventeen! This year’s edition was supported by the Brazilian government and renewed the festival’s partnership with the streaming service Darkflix. The festival ran from April 9 to 18 and featured over 100 shorts and 50 feature films from over 35 countries. If you haven’t already read FCS’s coverage of films by Cathy (Cemetery of Lost Souls) and Vance (One Grave for Three Men), you should. You might find a new film for you to try. I was able to watch History of the Occult, which was not what I expected. Honestly, at first I thought I had clicked on the wrong screener because it opened with a mysterious conversation then turned into a political situation. There was a […]

WHITE ELEPHANT: New Jesse V. Johnson Thriller Underway In Georgia Starring Bruce Willis

Lee B. Golden III

Jesse V. Johnson is taking the mantle for The Exchange’s latest world sales acquistion, White Elephant, casting Bruce Willis (Cosmic Sin), Olga Kurylenko (The Courier) and Michael Rooker (Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy) according to Scott Roxborough’s exclusive via The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. Production is already underway in Georgia from a script Johnson wrote with Erik Martinez, with Corey Large of 308 Productions producing, and BondIt Media fully financing, and sales slated for next week’s virtual market at Cannes. Willis stars as Gabriel Tancredi, an ex-marine-turned-mob enforcer who must battle his conscience and code of honor when he is forced to help clean up a botched assassination job by his protégé, Carl (Rooker). Scott Roxborough, THR The report notes the film’s fifth Willis-led collaborative effort between Large, BondIt Media Capital, and The Exchange – the latest being Chuck Russell’s Paradise City which broke news last week. That film (fifteen years in […]

FANTASIA XXV: KAKEGURUI 2, INDEMNITY, NOT QUITE DEAD YET, KING CAR, CAUTION, HAZARDOUS WIFE And Much More As The First Wave Makes Its Way Online!

Lee B. Golden III

With Québécois zomcom Brain Freeze already lined-up for this year’s 25th film festival at Fantasia, the first official wave of titles is finally here with the second readying to announce next month, followed by the full programme in July, and it looks as promising as fans could hope. Tsutomu Hanabusa’s Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette is the first to note in the announcement below, as it’ll be joined by several more titles out of the Far East in accordance with the festival’s thematic focus this year, celebrating Japanese culture through film, per hints from Donald Caron’s poster design revealed last month. Fantasia 2021 will also maintain its virtual platform edge as it did last year through Festival Scope and Shift72, making its programme accessible to audiences across Canada from August 5 through August 25. That’s not to say the organization won’t try to get some in-person events going, which of […]

Anne Heche, Skeet Ulrich, Daniel Diemer, Jordan Kristine Seamón

SUPERCELL: Alec Baldwin Disaster Adventure Now Underway, Adds Four To Cast

Lee B. Golden III

Production is officially underway with thriller, Supercell, following its announcement back in March. Cameras began rolling on May 7 for the Alec Baldwin-led disaster thriller, and now more names are being added to the roster including Skeet Ulrich (The CW’s “Riverdale,” “#Freerayshawn”), and Emmy-award winner and Tony-nominated Anne Heche (Donny Brasco, The Vanished), with Daniel Diemer (Tribeca Film Festival winner The Half of It) and newcomer Jordan Kristine Seamón (HBO’s “We Are Who We Are”) rounding out the cast. Herbert James Winterstern (NBC’s “Siberia”) is directing Supercell from a script he penned with Anna Elizabeth James (Deadly Illusions), and with . In the film, Diemer headlines the thrilling tale of William, a good-hearted teenager, who lives in hope of following in his father’s footsteps, the legendary storm chaser Bill Brody who was killed in action. His father’s legacy has been turned into a storm chasing tour business managed by the greedy and reckless owner Zane […]

Paper Tigers Screening 0

CROSSING HANDS, AND HUGS: A Night Out Celebrating With The Director, Star And Producers Of THE PAPER TIGERS In NYC [UPDATED]

Lee B. Golden III

There’s no question the abysmal toll taken on theatrical exhibitors left behind by the Covid-19 pandemic. That espeicially included the prospects of any in-person events that folks might have been planning at the top of last year. With more than a year passing since then, and the progress brought on by the accelerations of vaccine output in the States thanks in large part to a new administration, it’s been rejuvenating somewhat to see moviegoers slowly getting to return to theaters, albeit under continual safety restrictions still in place in many areas. In the midst of it all, it’s especially been opportune for filmmaker Bao Tran as he and his team travel the country to attend select screenings and Q&A events to celebrate the long-awaited release of his feature film debut, The Paper Tigers, now out in theaters and on Digital from Well Go USA. Following recent stops in Bellevue, […]

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THE GREEN GHOST: Michael D. Olmos’s Long-Awaited Mexican Superhero Adventure Starring Danny Trejo And Marko Zaror To Premiere At LALIFF In June!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been nearly six years since stirring up festival crowds with updates, including a short teaser, poster and an exclusive ten minute preview for upcoming superhero movie, The Green Ghost. Nowadays though, the Michael D. Olmos-directed fantasy action adventure is finally getting some more buzz going with news of its upcoming premiere as part of the line-up for the 20th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival launching in June. This is the untold story of the true Maya Apocalypse that has been misinterpreted by scholars and was to have taken place on 12/21/12 – that was obviously wrong. A secret group of Mexican superheroes, known as El Trio de la Luz, are forced by destiny to include their bumbling adopted gringo into their group to join the fight to save humanity. Will the car salesman and local TV personality carry his weight and transform from the GRINGO into the GREEN […]

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EXILED: THE CHOSEN ONES Sets A City On Fire In A New Still From Ranjeet Marwa’s Upcoming Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

I’ve been off-and-on in touch with filmmaker Ranjeet S. Marwa as post-production stayed onward for his new movie, Exiled: The Chosen Ones, and I’ve learned just a few tidbits about the project and even gotten to take a look at some of the action. What I can divulge is that there can be well over a dozen action sequences from respective starring actor/choreographer and action director, Sunny Pang (The Night Comes For Us, Headshot) and co-star Nick Khan, and also, based on what I’m told, folks watching the film will be in for some cool surprises. I can also report that the film is in the last phases of post-production with the final grading just about finished, which also brings us a fresh new still from a shot previously seen in the main trailer in January – now tweaked with a more targeted look and feel to attrribute to Marwa’s […]

SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS Stands Tall In The First Official Poster Ahead Of Sunday’s Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Excited for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins yet after Thursday’s first look reveal? If not, take a gander at the first poster for the new Hasbro film adaptation starring Henry Golding, debuting a first in Hasbro history for an original tale about the agile maverick ninja warrior. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, a tenacious loner who is welcomed into an ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage after saving the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he’s been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes’ honor and allegiance will be tested – even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him. Based on the iconic G.I. Joe character, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins also stars Andrew Koji […]

THE OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK, BLACK DYNAMITE 2 And More Planning Ahead Of July Launch For Michael Jai White’s Jaigantic Studios In Connecticut

Lee B. Golden III

Michael Jai White will be in business very soon for Connecticut locals looking to stir the film pot this year as the actor and action star makes way for his independent production label, Jaigantic Studios. Built as Connecticut’s first mini-major studio, Variety‘s Haley Bosselman reports “Jaigantic will open Studio One in July, which will be operational during construction of the purpose-built studios in New Haven, Conn.” with a slate spanning “film, television and other commercial projects.” White has been ramping up the company label for several years now with a promising line-up of titles, namely including The Outlaw Johnny Black, a blacksploitation style Western starring White who also directs from a script he wrote with co-star Byron Minns, and is slated to be the first film out of the Jaigantic wheelhouse. Located at the midway point between New York City and Boston, Jaigantic Studios will serve as an accessible industry […]

THE PAPER TIGERS

THE PAPER TIGERS To Screen At Village East By Angelika In NYC With Director Bao Tran, Star Alain Uy, More In Attendance

Lee B. Golden III

Once more, I’m inclinded to help boost the signal for Well Go USA’s latest prospective release, The Paper Tigers, which is now available in select theaters and on deck for disc releases as well this summer. What’s specifically important here though is that attendees to the Village East by Angelika in New York City this Friday and Saturday evening will get to meet director Bao Tran, as well as producers Michael Velazquez and Dan Gildark. Also on hand will be actor Alain Uy who leads the cast for the film, from a script by Tran which centers on a trio of middle-aged former kung fu prodigies forced to get their fighting groove back to avenge the death of their beloved Sifu. Also starring Ron Yuan, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Matt Page and Ken Quitugua, the film is home to countless positive reviews in the past year since commencing its virtual festival […]

Now Streaming: NIGHT IN PARADISE, Bittersweet Redemption And Violent Reprisals

Lee B. Golden III

Having spent more than a decade building his repetoire, actor Um Tae-goo has been on a roll lately with a few outstanding lead performances in Korean cinema; Festivalgoers in the past year might take note of Um’s 2020 starrer, Jung Hyuk-ki’s My Punch-Drunk Boxer, as a formerly prospective athlete looking to reinvent himself using his ailment. The actor’s latest outing though is currently streaming on Netflix with Park Hoon-jung’s Night In Paradise, fully vested in the companies stock of Korean content and in part with a story that invariably aims to list among the streamer’s promisingly R-rated, gritty and brutal thrillers. Par for the course is Park himself who is no stranger to bringing visceral, stimulating and harrowing thrills to the screen in titles such as New World, The Tiger and The Witch: Part 1 – The Subversion. Um plays Tae-gu, an underworld gang enforcer who decides to take matters […]

Idris Elba

STAY FROSTY: ‘Extraction’ Director Sam Hargrave Poised For Warner Bros. Assassin Vehicle, Idris Elba To Star/Produce

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker and stunt multi-hyphenate Sam Hargrave will direct potential action vehicle, Stay Frosty, for Warner Bros., following a successful auction bid by the studio. Upcoming The Suicide Squad actor Idris Elba will star in the pic, penned by Tyler Marceca, which is being billed as “big of a John Wick-type character in a throwback to ’80s high action Christmas movies that include Die Hard and Lethal Weapon“, according to Deadline. The film marks the latest addition to Hargrave’s workload after years of earning his stamp of stunt industry approval with numerous screen credits on both sides of the lens, partly including several Marvel Studios titles, as well as the Hunger Games franchise from Lionsgate. He made his directing debut with AGBO-produced Chris Hemsworth headliner, Extraction, which broke Netflix streaming records last year from its Spring launch, and is also in development for a sequel. After miraculously surviving a bullet to the head, a man […]

Poppy Delevingne and Chad Michael Collins

ASSAILANT: ‘400 Bullets’ Director On Hand For Suspense Thriller Shoot Now Underway In The Caribbean

Lee B. Golden III

400 Bullets, Pandorica and Black Site director Tom Paton is back in production with suspense thriller, Assailant, featuring British actress and model Poppy Delevingne (Kingsman: The Golden Circle), Chad Michael Collins (Sony Pictures’ Sniper film franchise), Casper Van Dien (Alita: Battle Angel, Paramount Pictures’ Sleepy Hollow), and Jeff Fahey (ABC’s “Lost,” Twentieth Century Fox’s Alita: Battle Angel). Paton is directing the film from his own script with cameras now rolling at Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, marking the latest feature in the region under a far-reaching six-picture production deal between MSR Media and the local authorities of the Caribbean island. The film also marks a reunion for Paton who previously directed Van Dien in Lionsgate’s 2020 sci-fi thriller, G-Loc, as well as for MSR whose prior comedy, Philippe Martinez’s One Year Off, just wrapped with Collins among the cast. Delevingne’s own credits also roles include King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and […]

VICIOUS FUN

AMC’s Shudder Announces Twelve New Original Horror Titles From June Through August

Lee B. Golden III

AMC’s premium horror platform, Shudder, is gearing up to heat up your summer with a slate of twelve new original and exclusive films for June, July and August. The list also includes The Amusement Park, horror George A. Romero’s long-lost ageist horror thriller which Yellow Veil Pictures picked up for world sales rights last June. Remarkably the list also includes horror thriller, Caveat, described as “an eerie, slow-building, cat-and-mouse thriller”, which Shudder announced for its streamer On Wednesday, so for those of you itching to have your horror itch scratched this summer, it looks like Shudder’s got you covered… “Shudder’s ‘Summer of Chills’ offers something for everyone with a fantastic line-up of new premieres every week, on top of the best library of curated streaming horror films anywhere,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s General Manager. “We’re especially excited to have the premiere of legendary director George A. Romero’s lost film The […]

RED SONJA Casts Hannah John-Kamen For Millennium’s Sword-And-Shield Comic Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man And The Wasp, Ready Player One, upcoming Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City) will take up the sword in Red Sonja for Millennium Films. Casting comes following the attachment of Netflix/Legendary’s upcoming animated Tomb Raider series writer/exec producer, Tasha Huo. The move marks the latest film effort since Richard Fleischer’s Brigitte Nielsen/Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1985 adaptation of the on-going 1970s comic from Dynamite Entertainment; Fleischer’s movie bombed critically and commerically but sustained a cult following over the years through merchandising, and a TV incarnation adaptation in the 1990s, years before news arose of remake efforts as of 2018. The character was originally recreated by Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor with partial inspiration from Robert E. Howard’s own shortstory work from the 1930s, and centers on a young girl from the Western Hyrkanian steppes who trains and sets out to seek revenge for her own rape and the […]

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: First Look Stills From The Upcoming ‘Game Of Thrones’ Prequel

Lee B. Golden III

A year and a half since its announcement and with cameras now rolling, WarnerMedia and HBO have unveiled the first official images from the upcoming drama series, House Of The Dragon. The show is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” novel – drawn from his own manuscript in 2014 and is set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, centeted on the story of House Targaryen. The gallery below features the select cast in full regalia: Olivia Cooke as “Alicent Hightower” and Rhys Ifans as “Otto Hightower”; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Sea Snake”; and Emma D’Arcy as “Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen” and Matt Smith as “Prince Daemon Targaryen”. The show began filming in April and is set to debut on HBO, and on HBO Max in 2022. Check out the gallery below!

PROJECT H: Aaron Toney Reveals New Photos For Upcoming Fantasy Action Pilot Now In Post-Production Through Indiegogo

Lee B. Golden III

Actor, filmmaker and stunt professional Aaron Toney revealed two new images over the weekend for his upcoming independently-produced pilot, Project H, which you can view in the captioned images above. Toney made the reveal in a new Indiegogo campaign launched several days ago to help crowdfund the pilot’s post-production, after completing a five-day production slate spanning a month from mid-March. The campaign ultimately achieved its goal of $2000, having since broken past the $3600 mark (as of this article) which could potentially be used as funds toward another episode or to provide means to trek the concept to various marketplaces virtually, and help him and his team expand his reach. An official statement has not yet been made. Project H is based on Toney’s viral action-packed short, Throne, which he shot in 2014 with over two dozen performers, from a concept he drew together with fellow creatives Jason Sweat and […]