You’ll be hearing a little bit from 20th Century Fox this month, so keep them in mind for a few updates in cinema, the first of which brings us to their local-language film production shingle Fox International Productions. Reports are now circulating that the company is currently partnering with Lifelike Pictures to develop its first feature film in Indonesia titled 212 Warrior, inspired by the 185-part series of martial arts novels from author Bastian Tito.
The move marks the latest step for Fox International after its involvement on Korean productions such Na Hong-jin’s critically acclaimed sophomore action hit, The Yellow Sea, and his suspensful 2016 follow-up, The Wailing. Acclaimed director Angga D Sasongko, best known for Indonesian dramas, Cahaya Dari Timur: Beta Maluku (2013) and Surat Dari Praha (2016), has been tapped to direct the film starring Tito’s son, actor Vino G. Bastian, as the numerically-marked, multi-gifted ax-wielding hero of legend, Wiro Sableng, who accumulates a number of striking abilities in his adventures.
Production is moving forward later this year with plans for Fox International and Lifelike to distribute the film locally as well as other territories. Sheila Timothy is producing the film with Fox International consultant and former Fortissimo Films chair Michael J. Werner executive producing.
“Combining our understanding of the Indonesian market and audience preferences with FIP’s expertise, ‘212 Warrior’ will satisfy the demand of Indonesian audiences for a good quality film. (FIP President) Tomas Jegeus, Michael Werner and I agreed to make the ‘212 Warrior’ as a great commercial movie. We look forward to expand the collaboration to the series,” Timothy said in a prepared statement.
Actress Sherina Munaf will also star as will Bastian’s wife and cast member, actress Marsha Timothy, with action sequences by Yayan Ruhian and a script by Sheila Timothy and scribes Tumpal Tampubolon and Seno Gumira Ajidarma. Ruhian and Timothy last appeared in the respective roles of restrained couple, Prakoso and Dwi, in Gareth Evans’s The Raid 2.
Save for the currently quiet end of all things related to Mario Kassar’s reported and hopeful sci-fi actioner, Foxtrot Six, Ruhian himself has kept pretty busy in the years since The Raid 2 with Gangster, Anggy Umbara’s Comic 8 movies, Miike Takashi’s Yakuza Apocalypse and appearing briefly next to his noted Raid cohorts in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He’s also expected to appear with Iko Uwais and Frank Grillo in Liam O’Donnell’s Beyond Skyline later this year while we currently wait and see what lies ahead for his previously reported prospects on Kimo Stamboel’s One Good Thing and Kellie Madison’s The Gate with Amy Johnston.
Stay tuned for more info on 212 Warrior!
(An earlier version of this article mistakenly cited actress Marsha Timothy as one of the writers)
