A new year is almost upon us, and so with that comes a whole new set of priorities. For some of us, that includes tidying up our moviegoing schedules and making room for any possibilities going into the next twelve months.
If you’re keen, I’ve went and compiled more than a hundred films (124 to be exact) worth keeping an eye on as we follow the news blurbs along. To add, I ended up throwing in at least twenty-four more as the inspiration took over long before I was done with this list.
Obviously, while most of these films are action-oriented as it’s the bread and butter for sites like this one, it’s not every film on the 2024 docket. I just went and dove into the matter to make my own list, and I’m certain there’s probably a hundred more where these came from, although I figured if we were gonna clock these films until then, this would be a good place to start.
The films below aren’t listed in any particular order, and while only some of the films are dated, you’re welcome to bookmark any of the TBA-noted titles for your own up-keep (titles with *Asterisks are noted for films that require more detailed reporting going forward.)
I might produce a shorter bonus list to round things out a bit. Dunno yet but, we’ll see. Meanwhile, check out what’s written and pick your New Year picks!
Layers Of Lies – January: Several years of building interest and momentum to his favor have now garned Ramin Sohrab some more hopeful film prospects following his directing debut here, in which he himself plays a firefighter thrust into the heat once again when the woman he loves is kidnapped by a vindictive criminal.
Echo 8 – TBA: As Maria Tran shepherds the next two-part phase of the burgeoning indie sci-fi action noir trilogy, the inaugural thriller brings the actress and filmmaker to the forefront with the story of a clandestine assassin forced to question her latest assignment.
Armored – TBA: Justin Routt steps in to shoot an action thriller headlined by Sylvester Stallone who plays a security guard trapped on a bridge with his son when they encounter would-be robbers. Jason Patric and Dash Mihok also star.
Rough Dog – TBA: One of the latest to come out of Katana Films for the new year, George Karja stars in and directs this tale of a Romanian ex-con who sets out to dispense justice in Spain’s criminal underworld hierarchy leading up to a campaigning political figure aspiring to maintain power.
Hundreds Of Beavers – February: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews and Mike Cheslik, and action director Jon Truei shepherd their silent-driven romp about a 19th century drunken applejack and his quest in the name of love to prove himself against a legion of beavers who’ve invaded his forest and destroyed his livelihood.
Monkey Man – TBA: With lead actor Dev Patel making his feature directing debut, I’m quite surprised this newest endeavor went under the radar as quietly as it during Netflix’s promo event rounds in November. Anyway, Patel goes to town as a John Wick-style vigilante in India as an ex-con battling injustice from the streets to the corporate floors, with Sharlto Copley and Sobhita Dhulipala also starring.
Rebel Moon Part II – 4.19: With A Child Of Fire in its rearview, the second chapter of Zack Snyder’s sprawling sci-fi epic with The Scargiver may just live further up to the hype, centered on a mysterious young woman and interplanetary warriors on a mission to defend a peaceful colony the edge of the galaxy from the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Rhian Rhees, Fra Fee, Djimon Hounsou and Ed Skrein star.
*Return Of The Lucky Stars – TBA: The last few years saw some whispers of Sammo Hung’s return to bowl-cut territory as what appears to be one of his latest films seeks to tap into the Golden Harvest fandom of yesteryear with Tony Leung Ka Fai, Yuen Wah and Eddie Peng also starring. Alternatively titled “Legend Of The Pearl.”
Alienoid: Return To The Future – January: Choi Dong-hoon bookends the perpetual sci-fi adventure that combines magic, mystics and cyber-powered thrills for a band of heroes battling space and time to saveàw 4.12 w the world from an imminent alien takeover.
Madame Web – 2.14: Dakota Johnson spins an all new web of her own in the title role for S.J. Clarkson’s forthcoming Marvel entry out of Sony about a paramedic who journeys for answers when her clairvoyance takes precedence.
The Union – TBA: Julian Farino’s new action comedy casts Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry in a rollicking adventure about a construction worker whose high school ex-girlfriend recruits him on a high-stakes U.S. intelligence mission.
Kung Fury 2: The Movie – TBA: There’s no telling when David Sandberg’s feature follow-up to his overnight shortfilm hit will arise, but there’s no way we’re not looking forward to watching a splashy, neon-lit adventure full-up with 1980s allure and over-the-top action and cheese galore following up our hero’s time-traveling, Nazi-slaughtering shenanigans. President Schwarzenegger-approved!
Grand Death Lotto – TBA: Akwafina and John Cena are among the roster partaking in Paul Feig’s hungriest of hunger games in a dystopian future where lottery winners can only claim their prize by killing other winners before sunset. Written by Outside The Wire scribe Rob Yescombe.
(Pri)sons – TBA: Assassins seize an illegal underground marketplace forcing a ragtag band of criminals to team up and fight back in the newest ultra-violent actioner out of Finland from director Esa Jussila.
100 Yards – TBA: Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng did some remarkable work here pending its U.S. release. Jacky Heung and Andy On play a pair of martial arts rivals vying for leadership of their school, who then break tradition and take their matters to the public square.
The Beekeeper – 1.12: Save for what awaits with Levon’s Trade, one of the more prolific titles to re-emerge in the fall with a trailer comes thanks to MGM via David Ayer’s pairing with Jason Statham, telling of a former member of a clandestine unit who then sets out to take down a corrupt nationwide system, and avenge the suicidal death of a friend.
Kill – TBA: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat is taking his latest Lakshya-starring success mainstream with releases in the U.S. and U.K. planned for the Hindi action thriller centered on a commando who takes on a passenger train hijacked by bandits to save the woman he loves. Coming Soon from Lionsgate!
Darkness Of Man – TBA: Jean-Claude Van Damme tackles the role of a former Interpol operative who goes head-to-head with mercliess gangs to protect an elderly man and his grandson – the son of an informant killed in a raid years earlier. James Cullen Bressack directs with action sequences by Luke LaFontaine.
Saindhav – 1.13: Sailesh Kolanu directs the upcoming Telugu action adventure celebrating Venkatesh Daggubati’s 75th movie. With little to no details available on the film’s plot, the film’s first teaser opened back in October which lends a little something to catch the eye for Tollywood moviegoers in the new year.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – 5.24: With Cannes open to the hopeful prospects of repeating its earlier success with George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road, the hotly-anticipated prequel to Miller’s reboot now readies to explore the character’s origins, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy coveting the role following Charlize Theron’s performance in the 2015 hit film.
Lost Phoenix – TBA: Directed by James Couche, actor Wan DraL leads the way for the indepndently-made action thriller shot during the pandemic, centered on an amnesiac’s quest to remember his identity while forced to take on mercenaries and hidden assassins amid a social uprising. Coming in the new year from Indie Rights.
The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare – TBA: Guy Ritchie directs an ensemble Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Eiza Gonzales and more for an explosive war drama centered on a small group of highly-skilled soldiers recruited by the British military to strike against Nazi forces behind enemy lines during World War II.
Onmyoji-Zero – TBA: Director Shimako Sato joins forces with a Jujutsu consultant and a renowned author to bring her latest fantasy adaptation to life for an original tale about the fabled Abe no Seimei.
Night Call – TBA: Launching sales from Gaumont at AFM in October, Michiel Blanchart’s pending feature is set against the backdrop of a Black Lives Matter protest, with a student and night time locksmith embroiled in a deadly manhunt and fighting to prove his innocence after helping a mysterious woman unlock her door to her apartment.
Guntar Kaaram – 1.12: Trivikram Srinivas’s Telugu-language action thriller comes packaged with the casting of Spyder and Sarkaru Vaari Paata star Mahesh Babu for the story of an underworld king who falls in love with a dauntless investigative journalist.
Walled-In: Twilight Of The Warriors – TBA: Monkey King franchise, SPL 2 and Limbo helmer Soi Cheang directs Louis Koo, Richie Jen and Sammo Hung in an adaptation of Andy Seto’s hit gangland manhua set in an 80s rendition of the once-existing “Kowloon Walled City”. Also starring are Raymond Lam, Kenny Wong, Cheung Man Kit and Philip Ng.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – 12.20: More characters are set to rejoin along with new additions for director Jeff Fowler’s three-for-all from Paramount Pictures based on the hit game.
Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera – TBA: Announced earlier this year for a late 2024 release by Barcliff Entertainment is the long-awaited sequel to writer/director Christian Gudegast’s taut, high-octane 2018 crime thriller, with an ensemble cast led once again by Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Seeking The King – TBA: Collaborating with the electric VFX team behind Space Sweepers and Hansan: Rising Dragon, The Battle: Roar To Victory director Won Shin-yeon transports viewers to the 1980s, chronicling the explosive action that ensues between the North, South and the U.S. when a giant robot lands in a village near the DMZ. Koo Kyo-hwan, Yoo Jae-myung, Seohyun, and Eric Roberts star.
Kalki 2898 AD – 1.12: Announced at Comic Con in San Diego this past summer along with a teaser, Nag Ashwin’s Telugu/Hindi fantasy sci-fi epic hails the return of Bahubali star Prahbas for the epic tale about “an avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu, who descended from Earth to fight Evil”.
Hounds Of War – TBA: Frank Grillo leads point in Isaac Florentine’s revenge thriller about a mercenary who sets out to avenge his fallen brothers after a shocking betrayal during a mission gone awry.
Havoc – TBA: Made prolific from his tenacious revival of the Indonesian film industry in the last decade with a slew of martial arts thrillers, Apostle helmer Gareth Huw Evans returns to his roots for Netflix’s newest offering featuring Tom Hardy as a detective unraveling a deep web of citywide corruption while fighting to resuce a politician’s son following a drug deal gone awry.
Game Changer – TBA: Little is known about this Telugu actioner, but it was a huge deal upon its announcement on leading man of RRR fame Ram Charan’s birthday. He leads a cast under the stewardship of S. Shankar, whos recent credits include bringing S.S. Rajinikanth’s spectacular sci-fi franchise to life with 2010’s Enthiran and its 2018 sequel.
Indian 2 – TBA: S. Shankar revives a wayback dual-headed protagonist in lead actor Kamal Hassan for his sequel return as an ex-freedom fighter-turned-vigilante who journeys to the country, coming to the aid of a young internet sleuth on his own quest to expose corrupt politicians.
A Legend – TBA: Stanley Tong and Jackie Chan reunite for this wintery sequel to 2005’s The Myth, which now follows the action star jetting across the world to unravel the mystery behind artifacts discovered by his students during a glacier expedition, revelations that could be tied to a peculiar jade pendant he’d seen in his dreams.
Panda Plan – TBA: Jackie Chan throws himself in the service of protecting a rare baby panda when panda-nappers raid a zoo in China. The film hails fron mainland director Zhang Luan and was announced back in October during TIFFCOM content market.
*Untitled Karate Kid Movie – 12.13: Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan are bringing the Miyagi-verse full circle for another epic feature film in the new year, this time from director Jonathan Entwistle.
Player Agency – TBA: Kage Yami leads the cast for the new Art School Dropouts-produced contained indie action adventure where an unemployed and depressed man takes up a VR game wherein his latest battle finds him squaring off against a tyrannical king in order to regain his confidence and reclaim his life. From director Joey Min.
GTMax – TBA: Stunt multihyphenate Olivier Schneider is coming into directing after proving himself on limited mobile series, Playground. With Les Orphelins believed to be in development, Schneider’s inaugural debut is heading to Netflix in the new year starring Ava Baya as an ex-motocross prodigy who must overcome her fears if she is to intervene in a high-profile heist and save her brother’s life.
Malaikottai Vaaliban – 1.25: Jallikkatu and Like An Afternoon Dream helmer Lijo Jose Pellissery directs from a script by P.S. Rafeeque, a Malayalam-language period actioner starring Mohanlal. Plot details are nil but the generic outline at IMDb bills it as an underdog story chronicling the life and struggles of a “legendary man” and how his endeavors pave the way for future generations. There’s a cool poster out as well that ought to warrant this as something grand for the masses while we’re at it.
Argylle – 2.2: Apple TV+ and Universal are partnering up to bring espionage thrills and danger to life for an introverted author, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. She is joined by Henry Cavill, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Catherine O’Hara, and Bryan Cranston for the Matthew Vaughn-dirscted film.
Golden Kamuy – 1.19: Shigeaki Kubo’s latest Meiji period-set action adventure comes straight from the pages of Satoru Noda’s hit manga, starring Kento Yamazaki and Anna Yamada in the story of a treasure hunt involving a colorful cadre of heroes and foes, including a legendary war hero looking to start a new life, and a formidable young Ainu girl on a quest to find her father’s killer.
Hanu Man – 1.12: Actor Teju Sajja takes flight for the fourth feature flick from Telugu director Prasanth Varma, set in present day and billed as the first installment of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU). The film hails from Pen Studios who revealed a propulsive first look teaser last November that bodes handsomely for its upcoming release.
The Wilderness – TBA: A screenfighting and stunt specialist for a number of film productions, Heo Myung-haeng takes to directing the upcoming sequel to Concrete Utopia, casting Don Lee, Lee Hee-jun, Roh Jeong-eui and Lee Jun-young for a story set in a world where everything from law & order to civilization has collapsed.
Mickey 17 – 3.29: Inspired by Edward Ashton’s novel, the new sci-fi flick from director Bong Joon-ho stars Robert Pattinson and tells of an disposable employee – or an “expendable” on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact.
Canary Black – TBA: Kate Beckinsale and Rupert Friend lead the charge for the story of a CIA operative tasked with saving her family and preventing a global crisis when she’s cut off from her team, blackmailed and coerced into serving the nefarious ends of her family’s kidnappers. Directed by Pierre Morel.
Borderlands – 8.9: Based on the hit Gearbox Software video game, Cate Blanchet leads the way as an infamous outlaw joined by a ragtag team of badasses to find and protect the daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., battling alien monsters and bandits along the way. Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Haley Bennett, Édgar Ramírez and more star in the Eli Roth-directed adaptation with select reshoots by Deadpool‘s Tim Miller.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – 4.12: There’s no telling how bigger, badder or more destructive Adam Wingard’s follow-up to the devastation left behind in the previous film until we see anything beyond what we were teased back in April, although with any luck it’ll be just as memorable as fans hope. Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle and Fala Chen star in the flick!
Jade – TBA: Black Widow actress Shaina West stars in James Bamford’s inaugural film directing venture centered on one woman’s quest to retrieve a crucial hard drive while protecting a pregnant widow against malignant forces targeting her. Mark Dacascos, Mickey Rourke, Katherine McNamara and Steven Michael Quezada also star.
Devara – 4.5: “When courage turns into a disease… fear is the only cure.” That’s the tagline for director Kortala Siva’s upcoming revenge drama now spanning two parts as of reports broken in October. RRR star NTR Jr. heads a cast that also lists Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, with Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts producing.
The Roundup: Punishment – TBA: Stunt professional Heo Myeong-hoeng debut directs the fourth and latest chapter for a franchise that began with 2017’s The Outlaws. Don Lee stars opposite Kim Moo-yul for a story that sees Lee’s character returning to the series to take down an illegal online gambling organization.
The Tyrant – TBA: We love Park Hoon-jung. And, his latest thriller looks every bit as enticing as one could expect with Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho and Kim Kang-woo starring in a story that sees a U.S. intel agent in pursuit of a missing sample beholden to a covert US program following a handover gone wrong.
Project Silence – TBA: Kim Tae-gon’s latest film had its North American premiere in September and became another favorite among the critics. Coming from Well Go USA, this one stars Lee Sun-kyun and Kim Su-an in the story of a workaholic dad and his daughter trapped on a 13-mile bridge where a top-secret battalion of government trained dogs have run amuck after a massive pile-up.
The Original Gangster – TBA: Syamsul Yusof is a ways from revealing further what’s in store for this latest contempotary crime action thriller out of Malaysia. That includes plot details, sadly, although the film is very much in production even after recasting its lead actor this year.
*MYSTERY MAT KILAU SPIN-OFF PROJECT – TBA: Studio Kembara’s mystery follow-up to the successful Mat Kilau has been a bit cagey in the past year, although details are finally and slowly coming out for the period actioner which sees Fattah Amin reprising his role.
Ali Topan – TBA: Jefri Nichols (Sri Asih) and Lutesha (The Big 4) take centerstage in Sidharta Tata’s adaptation of Teguh Esha’s 1971 novel (the second after Ishaq Iskandar’s 1977 flick) about a kind-hearted street kid and an affluent young rich girl who jettison across the country to find a better future amidst the world’s hardships.
One More Shot – 1.12 via Sky Cinema: James Nunn’s one-take shenanigans lend a welcome encore to the Scott Adkins fandom for the highly-anticipated sequel to their 2021’s One Shot, following a similar format that sees our Navy SEAL protagonist battling the odds while escorting a suspected terrorist. Tom Berenger, Michael Jai White, Alexis Knapp, Hannah Arterton and more also star in the film which Adkins teased in a first look for the film’s promo kick-off at MCM Comic-Con.
Lights Out – 1.12 February: Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Scott Adkins and Dermot Mulroney outline the roster for Christian Sesma’s newest thriller about a homeless ex-con whose gift of pugilism finds him on the descent into the criminal underworld with no way out except through his fists.
Take Cover – TBA: Scott Adkins leads the way in the story of a burned-out professional sniper trapped in an all-glass penthouse by a lethal competitor and fighting survive and escape with little to no cover between him and the killer. The film marks the directorial debut of stunt professional Nick McKinless from a script by Joshua Todd James.
Legasi Wira Merah – TBA: Wrapping back in the summer, Frank See and James Lee take on a story that places a young fire fighter squarely into the center of the Malaysian fire and rescue brigade’s latest and most daring mission yet. See and Lee direct from their script which has Ben Amir (Polis Evo 3) starring.
Ballerina – 6.7: Len Wiseman takes the wheel for the next chapter of the John Wick franchise in side-quest form. Featuring Ana de Armas in a story that takes place between the events of Parabellum and Chapter 4, the film tells of a ballet dancer on a mission to avenge her family’s murder.
Officer Black Belt – TBA: From the team that lit up our streaming chatter this year with “Bloodhounds” comes Netflix’s new South Korean martial arts actioner from director Kim Joo-hwan. “Black Knight” and Alienoid franchise star Kim Woo-bin plays a food deliveryman whose latest public display of multi-faceted martial arts prowess lands him a new occupation as a martial arts cop for probation officers tasked with managing violent offenders.
The Desperate Chase – TBA: Park Sung-woong and Kwak Si-yang are among the leads for Devils director Kim Jae-hoon’s newest action comedy adventure set in Jeju Island, and follows the events of a mission teaming a troubled detective with anger management issues, with a con-artist and master of disguise.
One-Percenter – TBA: Tak Sakaguchi is back once again as a one-man army, using his determinitive skillset as a killer martial artist for his action acting when a drug deal goes belly up during his maverick shoot, putting him, his protégé, and an innocent woman in the crosshairs. This film is way more than the plot allows to be known, and it comes from director Yudai Yamaguchi for an upcoming U.S. release from Well Go USA.
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 Shadow Strays – TBA: The action-packed warpath by The Night Comes For Us helmer Timo Tjahjanto continues with the most recently completed Southeast-Asian actioner coming to Netflix in the new year. Mum is the word on the plot as of this article, though following Tjahjanto on social media and taking his cues from his posts ought to give you enough to thirst over until we learn more about this film barring any hopes of The Operator coming to fruition.
The Last Train To New York – TBA: A remake of Yeon Sang-ho’s poetic South Korean horror thriller Train To Busan finds Indonesian hitmaker Timo Tjahjanto shepherding his take on the story of a father and daughter trapped on a high-speed train, caught between passengers fighting off a horde of bloodthirsty zombies, and panicked straphangers eagerly fending for their own survival.
The Bikeriders – TBA: Chronicling a bikergang’s decade-long evolutio into crime, Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and more headline Jeff Nichols’ upcoming Focus Features release, inspired by Danny Lyon’s 1967 photobook.
The Old Guard 2 – TBA: Victoria Mahoney sits in for Gina Prince-Bythewood to direct the long-awaited sequel adaptation of the hit comic for Netflix about a covert team of immortal mercenaries, with a cast led by Charlize Theron, KikI Layne, Mattias Schoenaert and Chiwetel Ejiofor, along with Uma Thurman, Henry Golding and Veronica Ngo.
Chief Of Station – TBA: Jesse Johnson directs lead actors Aaron Eckhart and his Boudica star Olga Kurylenko for the story of an ex-CIA station chief thrust back into the world of espionage and teaming up with an adversary to find the people who murdered his wife.
The Bricklayer – TBA: A date remains pending in the new year for Aaron Eckhart’s latest pairing with director Renny Harlin. Titularly based on ex-FBI agent “Noah Boyd”, the upcoming Vertical Entertainment release centers on an ex-CIA agent pulled out of retirement and tasked with clearing the agency’s name, forcing him to confront his checkered past while foiling the rogue insurgent responsible for the murders of foreign journalists.
Classified – TBA: Roel Reiné helms another for the books with Aaron Eckhart starring here as a CIA hitman who discovers a shocking truth about the division he’s been receiving orders from.
Welcome To The Jungle – TBA: Baaghi 2 & 3 and Heropanti 2 director Ahmed Khan tackles Sooryavanshi scribe Farhad Samji’s action comedy script, casting Akshay Kumar for the story with a shocking twist that upends the mission of two cops to take down a notorious criminal. Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani and Sanjay Dutt also star.
Singham Again – TBA: Rohit Shetty is bringing back the cop trio galvanized in 2021’s Sooryavanshi, now joining Akshay Kumar, Kamal Hassan and Ranveer Singh with some extra firepower in Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan – 4.10: A remake of David Dhawan’s 1998 hit inspired by Michael Bay’s Bad Boys, actors Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff headline the latest from Bloody Daddy and Tiger Zinda Hai helmer Ali Abbas Zafar about two maverick cops with budding personalities.
Fighter – 1.25: Siddharth Anand is a gift that keeps on giving with January’s arrival of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone for a high-flying action thriller spotlighting India’s air force.
Legend Of The White Dragon – TBA: After years of affirming his craft under his Bat In The Sun label, Aaron Schoenke’s long-awaited directing debut sets the stage for late actor and martial arts superstar Jason David Frank’s final role as a fallen hero who must find a way to redeem himself and regain his lost powers for a fighting chance against a villain with a deadly vendetta.
The Crow – TBA: Rupert Sanders is the latest to stand trial before audiences as Lionsgate rolls out the long-awaited revival of the cult classic noir tale of a man brought back from the dead by a mystical bird to set the wrong things right. Bill Skarsgård leads the cast along with FKA twigs and Danny Hutson.
Boy Kills World – TBA: The second of two action thrillers featuring Bill Skarsgård in the lead role for the new year comes from director Moritz Mohr with a story about a boy made deaf by the childhood trauma of his family’s murder, and forged by a master to avenge their deaths come hell or high water. Yayan Ruhian and Andrew Koji also star.
The Last Kumite – TBA: Kampfansage star Mathis Landwehr is finally making his return to stardom alongside a cast of major martial arts stars in a new actioner from debut director Ross Clarkson. The crowdfunded and independently produced tourno thriller comes with inspiration via 80s and 90s martial arts movie fanfare, joining Landwehr among a row of proficient fighters forced into an illegal tournament to save their loved ones.
The Wages Of Fear – TBA: Julien Leclerq’s Netflix remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 classic explores the story of four people hired to transport nitroglycerine through South America without the appropriate safety equipment. Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Ana Girardot and Sofiane Zermani star.
The Fall Guy – 5.3: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, and Theresa Palmer take the plunge for David Leitch’s new action drama thriller, elevating Glen A. Larson’s hit TV classic which centered on a Hollywood stuntman, here telling of the adventures of a stuntman’s search for the missing actor he is doubling.
Life After Fighting – TBA: Human traffickers make the biggest mistake could make in kidnapping two martial arts students whose instructor sets out to find them. Debut-directed by and starring actor and martial artist Bren Foster. The teaser launched earlier this year and has since been disappeared from its proper channels, although it’s still floating around online for you to fish for yourselves.
Cold Storage – 6.20: Hailing from StudioCanal, David Koepp’s 2019 novel serves as the basis for the new Liam Neeson sci-fi thriller directed by Jonny Campbell, about a team led by a bioterror operative tasked with saving mankind from an ever-mutating and infectious organism that has managed to free itself from subterranean storage.
Road House – TBA: A reimagining of the 1989 bar room action classic for Amazon MGM Studios, Doug Liman shepherds Jake Gyllenhaal’s latest role as an ex-UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Florida keys, where he soon learns not everything is what it seems.
Sixteen – TBA: Currently in production is the newest hitman comedy marking the feature directing debut of Brett Chan, rejoining with his “Warrior” cohort Andrew Koji, who plays professional hit man who sets out to avenge own his death after being reincarnated as a teenager, played by Miles Brown.
Godam & Tira – TBA: The Bumilangit Cinematic Universe continues to grow following the exploits of Gundala, Srih Asih, and Virgo & The Sparklings, with Zahir Omar taking the helm for lead actors Chicco Jerikho and Chelsea Islam in the title roles.
Mayhem! – 1.5: Featuring action sequences by Jude Poyer, Xavier Gens’s French action thriller starring Nassim Lyes has set course for next year via IFC Films, shoring up danger and intrigue for an ex-con, fighter and family man whose past comes back to haunt him.
Nice Girls – TBA: Noémie Saglio’s fifth feature flick delivers an odd-couple action romp, casting Alice Taglioni and Stéfi Celma for the story of a French top cop who sets out to Germany to avenge her brother’s murder, albeit reluctantly cooperating with a local detective.
The Killer’s Game – TBA: The long-gestating adaptation of Jay Bonansinga’s novel finally had its production run with a stellar cast led by J.J. Perry. Dave Bautista takes centerstage as a world-weary assassin who decides to combat the hit he put on himself after learning of his girlfriend’s pregnancy.
Transformers One – 9.13: Josh Cooley is at the helm for an all-new animated feature originating the Hasbro property on Cybertron, and the escalating battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron. The VO cast includes Chris Hemsworth and Scarlet Johnansson, along with Lawrence Fishburne, Jon Hamm, Keegan-Michael Key and Brian Tyree Henry.
Gladiator 2 – 11.22: Paul Mescal takes the chariot reins as the son of Russell Crowe’s character in the hotly-anticipated sequel from returning director Ridley Scott, with Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and Peter Mensah among the roster.
Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes – 5. 24: Wes Ball’s fourth entry into 20th Century Studios rebooted Apes saga brings a new chapter set generations after the first film, joining a young ape and a human on a journey for freedom while another ape leader seeks out human technology in his quest for power. Owen Teague, Freya Allan and Kevin Durand are among the cast.
Uglies – TBA: McG directs from a script by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor and Whit Anderson, casting The Princess and Bullet Train actress Joey King for an action adventure set in a world where a compulsory operation wipes out physical differences and makes everyone pretty. This sounds wild!
Dune: Part Two – 3.15 3.1: Denis Villeneuve continues to set the standard with the next chapter of his revival of the sci-fi classic novel and the 1984 adaptation it succeeds, charting a course that sees Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya battle interplanetary warfare between the Fremen, the House of Harkonnen, and the Emperor, with the planet of Arrakis at stake.
Scream Before You Die – TBA: Nicholas Nathaniel is at the helm for a thriller he also pens with Donald DeNoyer, about kidnappers who have no idea what’s headed their way in the events after woman is nabbed, tortured and left for dead. Ron Perlman and Michael Jai White are attached per IMDb as of this post.
Rob N Roll – 1.19 (HK): Albert Mak’s upcoming crime comedy stars Aaron Kwok, Gordon Lam and Richie Jen in the story of a bucktoothed pro-wrestler and thief forced to pair up with a taxi driver and his best friend when a fumbled heist finds the trio on the run from pursuants on both sides of the law.
Damsel – TBA: Juan Carlos Fernandillo’s Netflix fantasy action adventure takes Millie Bobby Brown and thrusts her into the fight of her life against a fire-breathing dragon and the oppresive scorn of patriarchy after being bamboolzed and sacrificed by her royal family.
Lift – 1.12: Kevin Hart leads a crack team of thieves to pull off a heist of up to $500 million dollars in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet in his new Netflix heist thriller. Also starring are Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’onofrio, Ursula Corbero, Billy Magnussen, Viveik Kalra, Kim Yoon-ji, and Sam Worthington, from director F. Gary Gray.
Black Creek – TBA: Wrapped last month and starring Cynthia Rothtock, Don Wilson and Richard Norton, Shannon Lanier directs a cast brimming with noted action stars for a new and independently-funded and produced Western about the Sheriff’s sister whose quest for vengeance pits her against the vicious gang of outlaws responsible for the murder of her family.
Code 8: Part II – TBA: Jeff Chan’s sequel to his crowdfunded 2019 sci-fi thriller hit reunites Robbie and Stephen Amell for a story that joins them with revenge-driven superpowered teenage girl as they take on the corrupt police and the robotic forces at their disposal.
Boneyard – TBA: Currently in post-production, MR-9: Do Or Die helmer Asif Akbar directs Mel Gibson and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson for a story inspired by true events about the hunt for a serial killer who may still be walking free today.
Misjudgement – TBA: Announced earlier this year amid a fistful of Donnie Yen banner titles, the actor leads the way for a judicial thriller from directors Mak Ho-Pong and Terry Ng about a prosecutor who risks it all to deliver justice and clear the name of a young man wrongfully charged with drug trafficking.
Dominique – TBA: Avenged helmer Michael S. Ojeda directs Oksana Orlan for an assassin thriller that finds our well-trained titular killer protecting an innocent family that has taken her in, pitting her against corrupt forces in the South American town she landed in after fleeing her troubled past.
Venom 3 – 11.8: Kelly Marcel takes the mantle from Ruben Fleischer for the third installment of the Marvel franchise for The Dark Knight Rises co-star Tom Hardy’s latest re-entry into the superhero movie medium. Hardy and Marcel penned the script as well, with Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor also starring.
Kraven The Hunter – 8.30: Just a few degrees away from Venom brings us Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s second Marvel foray after Avengers: Age Of Ultron, hailing from director J.C. Chandor for his take on Russian immigrant Sergei Kravinoff’s mission to prove he is the world’s greatest hunter.
11 Rebels – TBA: Kazuya Shiraishi takes to a mid-19th century tale about eleven prisoners ordered to defend a fortress from the government’s army as recompense for their crimes. Battles Without Honor And Humanity writer Kazuo Kasahara’s script serves as the basis for the period thriller hailing from Toei.
Deadpool 3 – 7.26: Previously aiming for a release in the new year prior to being pushed back another year, indeed Ryan Reynolds himself confirmed a Summer 2024 release for the third chapter of Merc With A Mouth (and a franchise), joining him once again with Hugh Jackman in glorious full Wolverine garb, and with Shawn Levy at the helm.
Spades – TBA: Johnny Yong Bosch and Jason Narvy reunite on screen once again, pitting a detective and a vigiliante on a collision course with a ruthless crime syndicate for an exciting new action thriller with Bosch at the helm.
Violent Rhythm – TBA: Formerly known as Katzenjammer, Eric Jacobus’s new animated venture debuts the story of an e-violin virtuoso who must contend with the wills of an evil major music studio while infiltrating its network to rescue his childhood pop idol sweetheart from its corporate clutches. Currently in development and at concept stage, from what I am told.
Absolute Dominion – TBA: Long since its removal from Netflix and Blumhouse’s release pipeline, Lexi Alexander’s latest dystopian sci-fi centered around a martial arts tournament pitting best of the best against each other representing their religious factions could be on par for a release in the new year. It’s a wait-and-see thing, but worth bookmarking nonetheless.
Gunner – TBA: Luke Hemsworth toplines the latest from the director of the Kickboxer reboots about a Spec Ops vet on a mission to rescue his sons who are being held captive by the pointman of a drug-running organization. Morgan Freeman and Mykel Shannon Jenkins also star.
Glass Dragon – TBA: Hard Revenge Milly herself, Miki Mizuno returns to the driver’s seat for her newest lead action role signaling the feature debut of filmmaker Nik Shaw whose freshman thriller sees a martial artist accelerating her plans when things go wrong for her and her daughter. Mark Dacascos and Maryjun Takahashi also star.
Warpath – TBA: It’s too early to call for Liam O’Donnell’s new sci-fi action reunion with Iko Uwais, but we’re just bookmarking this one for the new year as well. Uwais takes handling a mysterious artifact during a world crisis in which he soon finds himself on a quest to protect his people from warring adversarial factions.
The Killer – TBA: This one could use some more reporting, but otherwise has Omar Sy starring in the reimagining of John Woo’s 1989 heroic bloodshed action thriller tale of an assassin’s mission to protect a blind singer caught in the crossfire of his work when the triads target him.
The Domino File – TBA: Tino Nguyen’s latest actioner went a bit quiet during the latter end of 2023 so perhaps the new film will see its release this year, about an estranged crime family heir who jets out to the U.S. to find his father’s killer with the help of an undercover cop.
I Did It My Way – 1.11: Apart from a pending U.S. release, Hong Kongers can expect a January rollout for the Jason Kwan-directed crime thriller culminating the efforts of a major drug bust following the arrival of four tons of meth. Starring Andy Lau and Gordon Lam.
Uncle – TBA: Actor Sope Dìrísù has long been a welcome fixture since solidifying series drama Gangs Of London into TV crime show history. Here he stars in Joe Marcantonio’s new revenge thriller about a young niece who must choose whether or not to walk the path of brutal revenge alongside her uncle following their family’s murder.
Role Play – 1.12: David Oyelowo takes on the role of a husband and father thrust into danger as he works to solve the mystery of his wife’s secret life as a kick-ass assassin, played by Kaley Cuoco for the film’s pending launch on Amazon Prime.
Carry-On – TBA: From director Jaume Collet-Serra, Taron Egerton takes to the not-so-friendly skies as a young TSA agent cajoled into slipping a dangerous package past security and onto a Christmas Day flight. All aboard!
The Smoke Master – TBA: Andre Sigwalt and Augusto Soares shape up the Brazilian Kung Fu stoner genre with Daniel Rocha starring as his family’s last chance at surviving an old gangland vendetta with the help of a unique master to prepare him.
Plan B – TBA: Firstly reported last July, Lucas Carter was tapped to pen the remake of the cult German martial arts action comedy hit about a trio of aspiring action stars thrust into the criminal underworld and forced to play a deadly game after mistaking a criminal hideout for an auditioning location. Still in development.
*MYSTERY KAOS PROJECT – TBA: Featuring Jack Kesy, this one comes from director Wych Kaosayananda and may have fallen off peoples’ radars in the time following the actor’s casting in a new Hellboy movie coming soon. I know things about this one, but I can’t say much. What I can say, however, is that it exists, and with any luck it’ll be a welcome banger for action fans.
*MYSTERY MICHAEL JAI WHITE PROJECT – TBA: I already have an idea on what the title is. Believe me though, soon as I can crack just what the heck Michael Jai White and his team including fight choreographer Joey Min have been filming in Atlanta in the past month or so as of this post so I can officially announce things per the trades or other, I’ll gladly change the name in future article posts.