COMING ATTRACTIONS: A Bonus List Of Movies To Look Forward To In The New Year

Some might think it enough that I list 125 movies to look forward to this coming year. Obviously there are way more movies coming out, and quite possibly more than the ones I’m about to lay bare before you in Wednesday’s bonus piece.

I was going to cap it at just maybe ten films, but I didn’t have much else going on this week except for work, and news was breaking too. So, I doubled tripled quadrupled quintupled it! As before, the listicle below is presented in no particular order, and while some of these have release dates, others don’t and so you’re all welcome to save a space in your devices to keep track of these titles as year approaches.

Enjoy, and look out for an upcoming livestream over at The Movie Dojo where Preston Downey (a.k.a. That Phat Samurai Guy) and his panelists endulge in this and the previous article for their new year moviegoing picks.

Dancing In The Ring – TBA: Actor and martial arts star Marko Zaror takes to an adaptation of Roberto Castillo’s biography on Chilean boxing legend Arturo Godoy, from director Robert Sepulveda. Serving as fight coordinator along the way, Zaror stars in the title role opposite Fiorella Bottaioli as both lovers battle romance and hardship amid their empassioned career pursuits. Read more about this one at Variety.

Widowmaker – TBA: The man who brought us the first martial arts action picture out of Wales with 2017’s Kamikaze is back with a sequel returning Marcus Shakesheff in the role of now ex-spy Evan Reed whose return back into the world of espionage is offset by the murder of his family.

A Legend – 1.21: Bound for a home release from Well Go USA, Stanley Tong’s The Myth sequel reunites him with Jackie Chan for the story of a renowned archeologist mitigating past and present timelines after discovering an ancient artifact.

Hunting Grounds – TBA: Emily Alatalo stars as a woman forced to upscale from prey to predator after surviving a gang of criminals with the help of a mysterious-but-charming lone woodsman. Tim Rozon and Patrick Garrow also star in the latest from director Derek Barnes.

Infiltrate – TBA: Starring Tim Rozon and Violent Night co-star Mitra Suri, filmmaker James Mark’s new actioner follows a woman compelled by a mysterious voice to tread into the dark underbelly of organized crime, determined to rescue her kidnapped husband from its clutches.

The Trier Of Fact – TBA: Calvin Tong’s latest debut follows the twists and turns that ensue between a maverick detective, and crime division officer appointed by his superiors to assist him. Louis Koo and Eddie Peng star.

Full Moon – TBA: The first Dutch action thriller to be filmed in Thailand comes from director David Cocheret, and follows four friends whose wild vacationing spirals into a nightmare when they become the prime suspects of a murder of a woman whose body washes ashore. Yannick Jozefzoon, Kay Greidanus, Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen, and Joep Paddenburg star from a screenplay by Brian De Vore.

MMA: Meu Melhor Amigo – TBA (US): Director José Alvarenga Jr. teams up with actor and Brazilian TV personality Marcos Mion for the story of a mixed martial arts champion on the mend in more ways than one when he learns he has an autistic 8-year old son, setting up an epic comeback tale on both sides of the Octagon.

No Other Choice – TBA: One of the most celebrated auteurs of our time is coming back with a fresh new thriller that reimagines Donald Westlake’s 1997 novel, “The Axe,” about a man who takes desperate, violent measures for a new job after losing his previous one of 25 years. Park Chan-wook shepherds a cast led by Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, and more.

The Chase – 1.1: Coming to French cinemas is the latest from director Juan Carlos Medina, about a cop in hot pursuit of a predator with only days left on the statute of limitations in the decade since the fatal kidnapping of a child. Sami Bouajila stars.

Mercy – TBA: Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson headline a crackling cast for Timur Bekmambetov’s new sci-fi. The upcoming Amazon MGM production follows a dystopia-set tale of a detective framed for a violent crime and thrust into action to prove his innocence.

Valiant One – 1.31: Coming soon fron Briarcliff, Steve Barnett directs a cast led by Chase Stokes and Lana Condor with a story that pits US soldiers against North Korean forces to protect a civilian asset when their helicopter crashes.

Affinity – TBA: Arena Wars director Brandon Slagle is en route with a new project involving Chilean action maestro Marko Zaror, starring as a former Navy SEAL with PTSD, whose new solitary life in Southeast Asia is interrupted when a mysterious woman washes ashore outside of his home.

Fight For Tomorrow – TBA: A fight that invariably rages on, Chan Tai-Lee’s crime noir starring Patrick Tam was shot in 2022 and eventually introduced to the markets the following year. Mandarin Motion Pictures is repping the film’s pending local release which follows a highly revered former gangster as he faces pennance for his outlaw past in pusuit of family, friendship and purpose.

Kung Fu – TBA: Kai Ko, Leon Dai, and Berant Zhu star in Giddens Ko’s new coming of age action adventure comedy based on the director’s 2005 novel. The movie sees a high school loser and his friend begin to discover themselves after defending a homelessman who turns out to be a 500 year-old swordsman itching to settle a centuries-old score with his rival.

Money In The Bank – TBA: Blind War and The Comeback helmer Huo Suiqiang casts the likes of Wu Yue, Philip Ng, Andy On, Bao Beier, and Yuen Biao, and centers on series of deadly events that unfold following the robbery of a cash transport.

The Martial Artist – TBA: Shaz Khan takes on both sides of the lens to shepherd the story of a prodigal MMA fighter whose latest defeat sends him on an introspective journey back to his homeland where he’ll face his greatest opponent yet.

Bad Boa’s – TBA – Gonzalo Fernández Carmona’s new Dutch buddy cop flick coming to Netflix stars Jandino Asporaat and Werner Kolf, and tells of a dedicated inspector, and a reckless ex-detective who  discover they have more in common than they expected, and join forces to deliver justice and avenge their murdered loved ones.

The Wide West – TBA: A heavy dose of early 20th century East-meets-West frontier spectacle, film duo Joe Cornet and actor Alexander Nevsky bring aboard Sumo champions, actors Hiroki Sumi and Ichi for a story that sees the first ever sumo delegation facing troubling odds in a dangerous town when their train to D.C. is stopped for track repairs.

Broken Rage – TBA: Takeshi Kitano’s latest is the first Japanese film produced for streaming to be selected for a festival screening, having played for Venice back in September. The upcoming Prime Video release sees Kitano in the role of a hitman fighting for survival between the police and the yakuza. It’s a story told in two ways, the second of which  “takes an unexpected turn, evolving into a self-parodying comedy,” “…with a captivatingly humorous touch.”

Game Of Death: The Six Doors To Hell – TBA – Timo Rose directs a cast led by actor and martial artist David Ruessel. A wily fantasy tale that takes its cues from “Dante’s Inferno” and Bruce Lee’s Game Of Death, a warrior’s quest to the gates of hell finds him battling foes as he fights to save his daughter.

Primitive War – TBA: Aussie director Luke Sparke’s new sci-fi actioner finds a squad of soldiers in 1968 Vietnam sent on a recon mission only to find themselves battling for their lives against a prehistoric threat. Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, and Jeremy Piven star.

Toxic Avenger – TBA: A freak fall into a vat of toxic waste transforms a downtrodden health club janitor into the titular hero out to make the wrong things right. Peter Dinklage leads the cast for the cult Troma classic revival from director Macon Blair with a wider release that remains pending following its Fantastic Fest premiere last year.

Eastbound Traffic – TBA: Starring Paula Berwanger and Mickey Koga, co-star Chuck Johnson debut directs a crime that follows a guilt-ridden woman’s harrowing journey into Tokyo’s sex industry while search of answers following her sister’s disappearance.

Cells At Work – TBA (US): Akane Shimizu’s hit manga series is getting the live-action treatment from Warner Bros. Japan, chronicling the travails of the smallest heroes within us – red blood cells, white blood cells and other cells working around the clock to keep the human body going. Hideki Takeuchi directs a cast led by Mei Nagano and Takeru Satoh.

Wings Of Dread – TBA: Plot details are unknown, but filmmaker Qin Pengfei and actor Ashton Chen are sharing the helm for the latest action thriller which also stars Chen opposite Indonesian film star Iko Uwais.

Without Remorse – TBA: Undercover Punch & Gun director Lui Koon-Nam reunites Philip Ng and Andy On for another round of thrills that also includes Tiger Chen, Dada Chan, and Hung Tin-Chiu. Production wrapped a month after the film was firmly announced before the presses with no details other than what Ng suggests will be a “hardcore martial arts actioner”.

Hit Man 2 – TBA: Choi Won-sub returns to helm the sequel to 2020’s inaugural hitman comedy which starred Kwon Sang-woo whose new life as a struggling webtoon artist and author is turned upside down after a night of drunken inspiration reveals that his latest hit creation has leaked online, containing state secrets outlining his ghosted past as a former NIS assassin. Plot details for part-two remain pending.

The Gorge – TBA: Scott Derrickson’s Apple TV+-bound action thriller follows two snipers – one American, one Russian – stationed in two seperate who must work together to defend mankind from an unseen threat. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy star.

Gayong – TBA (US): Currently in production for a May local release, Faisal Ishak’s latest Malaysian flick takes a page from Ip Man to bring martial arts fans the inspired tale of the celebrared founder of Gayong Silat, starring Beto Kusyairy in the lead role with action sequences by Yayan Ruhian.

Dead Before They Wake – 1.7: Armed with a baseball bat and sheer will, a homeless nightclub bouncer is offered $20k by a mysterious government official to search for a missing girl, resulting in a one man war in a human trafficking ring. Nathan Shepka stars in the film and shares directing duties with Andy Crane.

Deep Water – TBA: Aaron Eckhart rejoins Renny Harlin for the latest of several projects forthcoming from the The Bricklayer director. This story follows a group of international passengers who must work together to survive shark infested waters following an emergency landing.

Lost Bullet 3 – TBA: French action continues to be a blessing these days with Guillaume Pierret back at it with lead actor Alban Lenoir for the long-hyped third chapter of his action-packed crime saga continuing the story of an ex-con and getaway driver-turned-police mechanic and his ongoing battles for vengeance against dirty cops.

Sunray: Fallen Soldier – 1.24: Tip Cullen stars in the new action drama about a war veteran who calls on friends from his past to hunt down those responsible for the death of his daughter. Daniel Shepherd and James Clarke direct the pic releasing in the U.S. and the U.K. from Vertigo.

The Conspiracy – TBA: I couldn’t help but jog my memory a little more as it’s been about five years since this production took place. This year could finally be when actor/director François Mequer gets to put out his international action thriller about a pair of troubled search-and-rescue contract experts work together to save a Senator’s daughter and thwart an even deadlier conspiracy. Mequer stars along with late actor/martial artist Max Repossi.

El Duro – TBA: Otherwise known as Hard Coin, or The Hard One, the film comes from director Nacho Serapio who took Best International Action Film and the for Best Action Sequence at the awards stop within the 12th edition of the UASE. Francisco de la Torre plays a failed writer at the lowest point of his life, who is forced to risk it all on a coin toss when he is given one last shot to publish a best seller.

Nightingale – TBA: Recently wrapped in Bulgaria, William Kaufman is back in the chair directing an action thriller set against the backdrop of the Ukrainian-Russian war. LaMonica Garrett plays a U.S. SpecOps operative and private military contractor on a mission to rescue his kidnapped daughter from a mercenary, played by Daniel Bernhardt.

Tatami – TBA: Who am I to say “no” to a judo flick? This one comes from the minds of film duo Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv for the story of an Iranian female judoka forced to choose between subjugation, and risking it all for the gold during a championship match in Tbilisi. The film has already swept through Europe and parts of Asia while setting up a pending North American release from XYZ Films, and will soon play before audiences at the next Palm Springs Film Fest in January.

G20 – TBA: Patricia Riggen’s new action thriller from Amazon MGM Studios wrapped earlier this year, casting Viola Davis as the U.S. President forced to defend her family, fellow leaders, and the world when terrorists descend on the G20 summit in South Africa’s captial city. Among those starring are Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, Antony Starr, and Clark Gregg.

The Tiger – TBA: The trad-Silat fighting method of “pamacan” is front and center of Ardiansah Sulistiana’s new action drama about a West Javanese family whose secret tiger-style martial art gets exposed through a viral video, leading to conflict with an outsider determined to claim their heritage. Little is known about the cast as of this post while it is known that Cecep Arif Rahman will make an appearance in this one. Variety’s Naman Ramachandran released a first look as well.

Topakk – TBA (US): Also known as Triggered, Richard V. Somes directs this Filipino action delight which I loved upon reviewing. Arjo Atayde stars as an ex-soldier-turned-security guard whose PTSD becomes the ultimate modifier when he’s forced to protect a woman on the lam from a corrupt police death squad. The film also stars Julia Montes who kicks her own share of ass in this one too, and it’s playing for the Metro Manila Film Fest this month.

War 2 – TBA: Brahmastra Part One: Shiva director Ayan Mukerji takes the director’s chair continuing the exploits of Indian army Major Kabir Dhaliwal returns to combat a new threat to the nation in a perilous undercover mission. Hrithik Roshan is back in action this year and he’s joined by RRR megastar NT Rama Rao Jr., and actress Kiara Advani.

Legend Of The Condor Heroes: The Great Hero – TBA (US): Marking filmmaker Tsui Hark’s first return to the literary world of late author Jin Yong since 1992’s Jet Li starrer, Swordsman II, actors Xiao Zhan, Sabrina Zhuang, and Vanda Margraf star in the cinematic adaptation follows martial arts masters defending the city of Xiangyang from Mongol forces led by Genghis Khan.

This Is War – TBA: Austin Williams directs and co-scribes a Vietnam War-set actioner about a US Army helicopter flight crew that gets gunned down by enemy Vietcong in the South Vietnam Jungle and taken as prisoners of war. Tom Zembrod and Ryan T. Johnson star.

The Amateur – 4.11: A clear winner in one of the more anticipated titles of the new year, Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli adapt Richard Littell’s 1981 novel for director James Hawes. Rami Malek plays a CIA cryptographer who manages to blackmail his agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorist who killed his wife, for the 20th Century Studios release.

True Identity – TBA (US): From director Michihito Fujii comes the latest featuring actor and model Ryusei Yokohama, based on Tamehito Somei’s 2020 novel. Previously releasing in November for Japan cinemas, the movie centers on a man on the run for murder, and with every development turning over something different for the relentless detective pursuing him, the investigation soon brings into question just who his suspect really is.

Honeko Akbane’s Bodyguards – TBA (US): This manga adaptation is another I hope to at least catch in the North American festival circuitry this year from director Junichi Ishikawa, after releasing in Japan this past August. It features actor and idol Raul as a third-year delinquent student secretly assigned by a lawyer to protect his adopted daughter (played by Natsuki Deguchi) from the raft of deadly assassins trying to kill her, and ensure her graduation.

Chekau – TBA: Anyone who reads this site knows and loves Yayan Ruhian. The actor’s resume continues to extend to Malaysia whose own Kabir Bhatia (Sangkar) has since made headway with a private cast and crew screening.

Ties Of Blood – TBA: Iko Uwais is pretty active these days on social media, although not so much that we know the immediate specifics of his more recent on-set travails with this new project. What we do know is that it comes from Ali Topan helmer Sidharta Tata who is best known of late for his work on action drama series, “Perturuhan,” and action horror series “Zona Merah”.

Bu Feng Zhui Ying – TBA: Otherwise idiomatically translated as “Catching The Wind, Chasing The Shadows,” this one comes from Ride On helmer Larry Yang. Tony Leung Ka-Fai headlines the crime tale pitting new school crime fighting tech with sheer old school gumption as Macau’s police battle to nab a gang of thieves.