PAPER MADE Adds Father And Son With ‘Tom Yum Goong 2’s Marrese Crump Joining Cast
EXCLUSIVE: Actor and martial artist Marrese Crump (Tom Yum Goong 2, Welcome To Sudden Death) is set to join the cast of martial arts HBCU thriller, Paper Made, along with his son, Marcus Crump. The two join lead actor Myles Truitt (Kin, STARZ series “BMF”) for the feature film which is being penned by Watson and co-scribe Jerron Horton (Forever).
The news, which we’re breaking exclusively on Monday, follows earlier trade reporting last week by Deadline and Blex Media on casting for the pic. Production starts in Crump’s hometown of Tampa, Florida in March with genre mainstays Taimak (The Last Dragon) and Walter E. Jones (“Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” Love And A Bullet).
Crump’s credits also include The Wrong Side Of Town with Dave Bautista and 2016’s Sultan, as well as Alain Moussi’s sci-fi thriller Jiu Jitsu, and prison actioner The System with Tyrese Gibson. In addition to sharing the set with actors like Michael Jai White and Tony Jaa, Crump also trained late actor Chadwick Boseman for the titular role of Black Panther for Marvel’s cinematic universe.
“Marrese Crump is a world class martial artist and action star, it’s only fitting that he be involved in a film where the story is set in his hometown,” said Watson.
Set at a fictional HBCU, Paper Made follows Tavon Watkins (Truitt), who after a severe hazing incident threatens his academic standing, must pledge a secret fraternity of black martial artists that forces him to confront his ego, legacy, and the true meaning of brotherhood.
“Martial arts have been a part of the black American experience for generations and our film brings that excellence to the forefront from a perspective that has rarely, if ever, been seen in American cinema,” notes Watson on his reason for creating Paper Made.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Watson is an award-winning filmmaker and videographer who also teaches at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications. He and co-scribe Jerron Horton (Forever) penned the pic as a full reboot to Watson’s 2022 shortfilm concept, “Paper Line” which won a total of ten awards across two shortfilms at festivals between 2022 and 2024.
Rounding out the roster are martial arts progeny Quartay DeNaya (Inverted.film series “Pizza Guys Vs Vampires”) and wrestlers Daria Rae Berenato and Jamara Garrett (a.k.a. Mara Sadè), as well as veteran actor/stuntmen Devante Thomas (Sinners), Sam Lee Herring (Back in Action), martial arts sensation Jair Muhammad and reality TV star De’Andre Ashbury (Love Island). Martial arts wunderkinds Michael Quick McGee and Cequence Henry will also return for the reboot following their appearances in the shortfilms.
Producing Paper Made are Shaun Greenspan (Amber Alert), Brian Yuran, and Berenato. Taimak and Jones will also serve as exec producers.
“They’ve inspired generations of young Black men to believe they could become action stars,” Watson said of Jones and Taimak. “Being able to reflect the real-life impact they’ve had on our community through this story feels long overdue.”
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