A new teaser poster is making the rounds along with several behind-the-scenes featurettes for the latest mystery project out Studio Kembara. The Malay production banner behind the success of director Syamsul Yusof’s record-breaking period action epic, Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan, is yet to divulge explicit details just yet about the film in question, which leaves plenty of room for fans of Yusof’s film to speculate.
The success of the Adi Putra starrer led to an announcement of a prequel and a sequel, the former to which neither Yusof or his star would be involved. All articles thereafter hinted at the prequel’s filming this year with a production keeping most of its details under wraps, including its cast and crew until September came and word came to pass of Studio Kembara’s sudden removal of NYAFF’s Daniel A. Craft award-winning filmmaker Areel Abu Bakar (Silat Warriors, Walid) from the prequel’s production.
Remarkably, Bakar reportedly completed ninety percent of the film during a fifty five-day period, news to which Mat Kilau co-star, actor Beto Kusyairy, rose concern over the company’s lack of transparency regarding Bakar’s dismissal. As for the connection between that film and what’s being touted by Studio Kembara this month, we’ll find out soon enough if both films are the same one; Malaysian news outlet Cinema Online reported last month that the prequel is titled Pendekar Awang, which has Projek: High Council series actor Nadhir Nasar inheriting the role in a starring capacity from its predecessor, actor Fattah Amin from Yusof’s film.
Studio Kembara has also been rolling out several behind-the-scenes featurettes, including two of which introduce new casting additions to the vaguely-promoted film listing twins, screen talents Hazwani Helmi and Heliza Helmi in key roles. Feel free to make what you can with the assets below and discern what you will either way, at that. I enjoyed Mat Kilau for the most part and I’m hopeful that aside from any controversy that’s emerged in the last few months that we’ll get to see something cool out of the region.
Read more at Cinema Online.
