It was on Monday that Film Combat Syndicate hosted an exclusive update on the previously-announced union of action stars Tiger Chen, Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais for a project called Makeshift Squad. As things stand now, that project has shift into something almost entirely different whilst retaining its cast for updates on the Asian-Expendables style thriller, Triple Threat as of a few months ago.
Our first noted with news on Monday of the additions of actors Scott Adkins and Michael Jai White, and UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping up for villain roles. Jesse Johnson, longtime stuntman-turned director of such films as The Package and The Beautiful Ones will be at the helm with a script by Joey O’Bryan which THR‘s report on Tuesday now further clarifies will center on a billionaire’s daughter who finds herself targeted by a mercenary cartel. Her only means of protection are two down-on-their-luck fighters and a third who seeks revenge on the others.
The film has since been housed at Arclight and will have its own Mike Gabrawy and Gary Hamilton producing as will Mike Selby of SC Films International, along with Chen and producers Elliot Tong and Ying Ye. Tim Man, who previously collaboarated with Adkins on Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear, Eliminators and upcoming Boyka: Undisputed and Johnson’s Accident Man will choreograph the action with produciton commencing soon in Thailand.
Jaa’s next project after this will be a guest starring role in Yuen Woo-ping’s upcoming Ip Man 3 spin-off, Cheung Tin-Chi, starring Max Zhang with Michelle Yeoh and Dave Bautista shooting this summer. Uwais who currently stars in the Mo’ Brothers’s Headshot will be seen next in Liam O’Donnell’s Beyond Skyline while Chen’s new sci-fi, Kung Fu Traveler, opens in the U.S. this summer from Crimson Entertainment.