ECHO 8 TRILOGY: Cast And Production Details Announced For Asian-Oz Assassin Saga As Crowdfunding Launches At Indiegogo
Crowdfunding is underway for Echo 8 sequels Echo 8: Five By Five and Echo 8: Beyond. Plans are underway to raise funds starting this week over at Indiegogo, with thirty-five days of principal photography commencing in early 2025, following script readings among the cast earlier this year.
The micro-budgeted Echo 8 hails from independent production outlet Phoenix Eye Pty Ltd., shepherded by actress Maria Tran who stars in the title role. Tran also directed the film alongside co-star Takashi Hara from a screenplay by Elizabeth H. Vu (The Perception, upcoming Wake).
Released this year on Amazon Prime and FAST platform Tubi, Echo 8 sees Tran in the title role, member of assassins’ organization, Zodiac, who begins questioning herself after being handed an assignment that takes a dark twist.
Echo 8 also serves as atestament to the endurance of Western Sydney’s local Asian-Australian film community, staring down extensive hurdles brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, stretching the film’s shoot schedule to a year after kicking off in early 2020. The inaugural film now stands as Phoenix Eye’s latest crowning achievement after garnering acclaim before dozens of festival audiences.
“After screenings, we received a lot of feedback requesting to know what happens next with our character Echo 8. That inspired us to create a cinematic universe,” said Vu.
Tran and her team now set their sights on bringing the trilogy to life with the first among the sequels, Echo 8: Five By Five. Set thirty years earlier, the story unveils the enigmatic Agent 5’s grief-stricken existence and his gradual spiral into chaos while climbing Zodiac’s hierarchy. The finale, Echo 8: Beyond, brings Tran’s character back into focus as she fends off members of her former organization while protecting her mother from a distance.
Fellino Dolloso (In Heaven They Sing Karaoke) and Mike Leeder (Jet Li’s Fearless) will reprise their roles in the trilogy along with Nova Onas (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), and with Hara in a new role accomodating the timeline of Five By Five.
Also making the line-up are Masa Yamaguchi (Top Knot Detective, Suka), George Basha (Hostile Forces), Niro Ahuja (Humdum Humnava), Alex Hunter (Netflix series “Yasuke), Xiang Ma, Ashley Avci (“Housos,” Dumb Criminals), Damien Sato (Rhapsody Of Love), Ross Page, Joe Le (“Last King Of The Cross”), David Hambly (Thor: Love And Thunder), and Tracey Hambly.
Tran has been a rising star in entertainment and independent production for well over twenty years. She’s been a standout in the shortfilm arena with credits like “Hit Girls,”“Hong Kong Shogun,” and Adrian Castro’s webserial Hong Kong action homage “Tiger Cops”. To date, Tran’s film and TV credits also include the Roger Corman-produced Fist Of The Dragon, Cuong Ngo’s Tracer, Heidi Lee Douglas’s Suka, and Paramount+ crime drama “The Last King Of The Cross” opposite Tim Roth.
“My role models include Jackie Chan, Roger Corman, and Andrzej Bartkowiak. I’m fortunate to have worked with or been mentored by them so I can observe their approach to filmmaking and creative leadership,” said Tran.
“Since observing all my fellow actors trying so hard to enter the mainstream space to be seen and heard, I want to follow the similar footsteps of the Mahal Brothers and Jason Horton, who have the ability to build a community and make movies time and time again.”
Check out the campaign video below and head over to Indiegogo to learn more about the productions and become a contributor today.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
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