[UPDATED] SPL 2 Gets Its Director

Update: An article posted at Twitch on 9/13/13 reaffirms Tony Jaa is still confirmed for S.P.L. 2, reaffirming rumors reported late last year.

A google-translated article over at MTime this week reports that S.P.L. director Wilson Yip will be producing alongside director Pou-Soi Cheang (Dog Bite Dog) for the currently-developing Sha Po Lang 2, the sequel to the Yip-directed 2005 gritty martial arts revenge cop thriller The news comes a little over a month after the film was greenlit by the State Administration Of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in a report from Film Business Asia back in August.

The MTime article also expanded on earlier reports regarding the return of actor Donnie Yen who starred in the first film with actors Sammo Hung and Wu Jing, telling readers that Yen’s appearance may only extend to that of a guest role, considering his fate in the first film, which still leaves a lot more in the air about what the film’s plot will entail. Hung and Jing are also expected to return with actors Andy On and Francis Ng jumping on board for the film.

The report also confirms that actor Tony Jaa will not be starring, despite rumors suggesting so a little over a year ago. Instead, the Tom Yum Goong 2 star will be much busier between now and next year working on his next film with his A Man Will Rise co-star Dolph Lundgren in Skin Trade, in addition to resolving things with his former boss in order to begin filming director James Wan’s Fast And Furious 7 for its July 11, 2014 release.

Yen recently wrapped up filming his latest action flick with director Teddy Chen in Last Of The Best and will be moving forward with Cheang on Dragon City, one of two films being produced under Yen’s newly unveiled banner, Superhero Films, before shooting Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny this Spring. Yen will soon be seen back in screenfighting form opposite Ken Lo and Andy On in the long awaited release of the Hong Kong gangster-fu crime thriller, Special ID.

Check out the new behind the scenes featurette released on Wednesday. No English subtitles are available, unfortunately.

On recently appeared in the latest martial arts sports drama, Unbeatable, from director Dante Lam which had its most recent premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last weekend. Further releases are still pending. On also mysteriously popped up in a femme and macho poster, in addition to an epic trailer for a film unveiled on Fu Huayang’s Weibo several months ago titled Angel Warriors, which screened for a test audience back in June. Jing is currently finishing up his latest directorial stint in the commando thriller, Warg, with action star Scott Adkins, while Hung is awaiting his appearance in the upcoming Phillip Ng starrer, Once Upon A Time In Shanghai.

Cheang and Yen will also be promoting the February 14, 2014 release of the 3D kung fu spectacle, The Monkey King, in addition to Yen‘s continuation of the two-part production of the Hong Kong classic modern-day wuxia reboot, Iceman 3D. Actor Ng will also be starring in this year’s mainland Fall release of the gritty martial arts action crime thriller, Pay Back, with Louis Fan Siu-Wong and Asian cinema legend Cynthia Khan.

Stay tuned for further SPL 2 updates!

Thanks in part to David Vo over at Martial Arts Action Cinema for some of the expanded translation he shared on his page.