EMBATTLED: Indie MMA Drama Shoots This Week
Production is underway this week over at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama for MMA drama, Embattled. An extras casting call was reported last week by WBRC for the film’s biggest fight scene at the local sports complex reminiscent of the MGM Grand.
Embattled centers on a high school Judo prodigy who comes toe-to-toe with his biggest rival in the ultimate MMA battle for recognition and retribution: his father – to be played by Stephen Dorff (Blade, upcoming HBO series True Detective: Season Three).
Variety broke the news back in June hailing the launch of Blitz Films wherein at the time the film was titled Heart Of A Champion. About a month later, Amanda N’Duka at Deadline confirmed the new title, as well as the addition of Dorff who reportedly spent four months at a fight training camp for they role.
Blitz was launched by independent Georgian film producer duo Sergey Sarkisov and Nick Sarkisov; The latter previously directed STS channel series drama, The Moon, followed by his 2016 freshman feature outing, Krasny. Embattled will be his English-language directing debut from a script by David McKenna (American History X, Get Carter) whose son, Colin – born with Williams Syndrome, will also star in a supporting role.
Straight Up Films’ Kate Cohen and Scott LaStaiti will produce. Dorff is executive producing along with Sergey Sarkisov, co-founder of Blitz whose Eryl Cochran will oversee production.
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