WarParty Productions is ramping up the campaign for upcoming vigilante action drama, El Chicano. The film will have a November release this year following its inaugural premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 22, 2018.
Setting forth the directorial feature debut of stunt professional Ben Hernandez Bray, El Chicano details the adventures of a mystifying crime-fighter who battles nefarious forces in the barrio. Bray will be in attendance along with producer Joe Carnahan, and cast members Aimee Garcia, and Raul Castillo for the 9:15pm PST screening at the ArcLight Cinema in Culver City, California.
Carnahan said, “This film underscores the tremendous talent within the Mexican-American community. It’s unfortunate that our political landscape over the last couple of years has marginalized this community instead of embracing and honoring their contributions. My hope is for this film to launch a new wave of support for the Mexican/American and Latino actors and filmmakers and drive more productions like it in the future. Latinos make up nearly 25% of every movie ticket purchased in North America and its high time they were represented, especially in the superhero genre.”
Ben Hernandez Bray said: “El Chicano has a poignant storyline that accentuates the pride we have in our Mexican-American heritage. This film can play a big part in creating change in the current culture of negativity. If we use it as a rallying cry to celebrate our heritage and accomplishments, which parallel our main character’s beliefs, then it can be the catalyst for change in both the political and entertainment culture.”
El Chicano hails from WarParty as the second venture from the production banner founded by Carnahan and producer Frank Grillo following their first film, Jeremy Rush’s Wheelman, in which Grillo starred for Netflix. WarPary initially launched late last year with a $20 Million WarChest Fund to produce four to five “elevated genre” films a year.
Next in line is Carnahan’s 2019 action thriller, Boss Level from Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios, as well as Joe Lynch’s Netflix-bound WarParty/Gaumont partnered adaptation of French crime thriller, Point Blank, both with Grillo starring.
Following that will be WarParty’s long-awaited production of the North American reimagining of 2011 Indonesian crime/martial arts thriller, The Raid, in association with XYZ Films. Penned by Adam G. Simon and with Gareth Huw Evans (The Raid, The Raid 2) exec producing, cameras are officially expected to roll beginning in January 2019.
Carnahan is repped by CAA and Grillo is repped by WME and Management 360.
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Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
