cannes 2014
Tiger Chen Joins 'Man Of Tai Chi' Follow-Up, IMPULSE
It’s been well over a week since the 67th annual Cannes Film Festival wrapped up, and it’s difficult knowing that so much more happens than what most headlines can keep up with unless you have a huge staff glued to the internet. Especially on days like May 20, when an official press release went viral announcing the latest project for regular collaborator with Master Yuen Woo-Ping, actor and martial artist Tiger Chen.
Reports indicate that pre-production is already underway for Impulse, the latest film from Crimson Pulse Entertainment. Although there is no official word yet on what the plot will entail, it is being pitched as the follow-up to actor Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man Of Tai Chi which released last year in China leading up to its holiday North American release, which presents a small predicament in that it could be an original work, or a franchse sequel. Either way it goes, it seems the folks at Crimson see promise in what is looking to be another great new endeavor for Chen with seasoned thesps like Jackie Chan and Jet Li growing closer to their respective retirements in recent years.
“Tiger is an amazingly talented Martial Arts star, and we are excited to cast him in our film,” said Jonathan Lim, chief executive officer of Crimson Forest Entertainment. “We are confident that the film will have a stellar cast to complement an action-packed plot line that will resonate with audiences on a global scale.”
A director might be announced soon with further casting already underway with a script provided by Richard Ronat, with principal photography set to begin later this year in Vancouver. The film is will also be the third known project in which Chen takes a leading role since debuting locally last summer with Ning Ying’s Kung Fu Man.
Stay tuned for more information.
H/T: I Want Pop
The New Teaser For THE PIRATES Sails Online!
At the onset of Joseon’s founding, envoys bringing the Emperor’s Seal of State to Joseon lose it to a big whale at sea. A bandit Sa-jung goes out to sea to catch the whale with a big reward on its head. But he soon clashes with Yeo-wol, a female captain of pirates, and unexpected adventure unfolds.
What's New With Nicholas Cage? New Poster For LEFT BEHIND And Much More!
What you’re looking at is the latest poster headling actor Nicholas Cage for the upcoming October release of stunt veteran Vic Armstrong‘s latest directorial offering, Left Behind, which sees Cage playing a pilot in search of his family among a handful of those who have survived the rapture. The film is one in several new thrillers for the actor who was announced a few weeks ago at Cannes to be featured alongside actor Jack Huston in the production of writing-directing duo Alex and Ben Brewer’s new crime thriller from Highland Film Group titled, The Trust. But that’s not all.
Following a seven-year legal battle over a wiretapping case that eventually saw filmmaker John McTiernan‘s release from prison after serving nearly year behind bars, the acclaimed director is back in the film fray and working on the new action thriller, Red Squad. The also film offers a little something extra special for action fans who have cultivated much of their fandom back in the 80’s and 90’s when McTiernan and Cage were at their height of their careers.
Based on a script by Cam Cannon and Jorge Suarez, Cage will star in a story of a band of mercs taking taking on a drug lord in a Mexican border town. The film is also one in at least a few of McTiernan‘s latest projects in development, including a sequel to his 1999 remake of Norman Jewison’s 1968 heist pic, The Thomas Crown Affair.
Cage is also tapped for a hopeful sequel following the forthcoming Fall/Winter release of his next epic appearance in stunt veteran Nick Powell’s directorial debut adventure thriller, Outcast, produced by Jeremy Bolt and starring Hayden Christensen and Liu Yifei.
Stay tuned for more info.
H/T: The Playlist / Indiewire
WOLFCOP Sequel. That Is All.
Prospects for writer and director Lowell Dean are only looking better going into the summer with news from the film festival circuit over at Cannes that independent film production and promotion platform, CineCoup, is greenlighting a sequel to the upcoming creature feature, Wolfcop. The news arrived on Monday on the last legs of the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the first film, starring Leo Fafard in the title role, which now has less than a day left to raise its stretch goals as of this writing before making its Canadian screen debut on June.
SKIPTRACE Skips To A New Director + DRAGON BLADE Gets New Sales Art
Stay tuned for more info!
'Consequences' Surround The New English Title For SPL 2
Thai action star Tony Jaa just got some screentime in Cannes with the unveiling of footage from his new internationally cast action thriller, Skin Trade with Dolph Lundgren and Michael Jai White, which could lead to some exciting distribution news in the days or weeks ahead. In the meantime, principal photography is already underway as of May 1 for Jaa’s new action thriller, Sha Po Lang 2, and the second of two posters have already begun circulating the internet for the film’s presentation in Cannes this month.
View it below:
In light of the new poster unveiling this month, co-producer Mike Selby has confirmed from producers Wilson Yip and Paco Wong who designed the new poster that the film’s accompanying English sales title will be A Time For Consequences. Serving as a thematic sequel/prequel following the spectacular 2005 crime pic, Sha Po Lang, the new film is directed by Cheang Pou-Soi will center on Kit, a tough undercover cop betrayed by his supervisor and forced to break out of prison with the help of reluctant Thai prison guard, Chai (Jaa), to stop and catch a notorious crimeboss and reunite with his dying daughter as her only means of survival.
With further casting news and other developments to be made, the news is slowly developing for what is expected to be another dazzling martial arts crime actioner for Cheang following up from the January release of The Monkey King, now poised for sequel of its own with a new sales poster for presentation.
Set to release next year, SPL 2 / A Time For Consequences stars Jaa along with returning actors Simon Yam and Wu Jing, and newly added cast member Max Zhang with a cameo by actor Louis Koo.
CANNES 2014: What's New With Idris Elba?
From being a ‘Loser’ and a ‘Taker’ to being the gatekeeper of Asgaard and canceling the apocalypse in a Jaeger, actor Idris Elba has served his own good fair share of excitement for filmgoers in several action roles throughout his career in recent years. Point in fact, some fans have even gone so far in the past few years as to generate talk among fans of him hopefully inheriting the role of James Bond in the 007 franchise – rumors he no less dispelled earlier this year.
But that doesn’t mean the action will disappear. Nope, not by a long shot. The Marché du Film in Cannes is in full effect this month, and Elba has made quite a few headlines along the way, starting with the current production of Sin nombre helmer, Cary Fukanaga’s new war drama, Beasts Of No Nation. Fukanaga’s script is based on the inspired work of author Uzodinma Iwela, whose 2005 novel publication (attributed to late Nigerian recording artist, Fela Kuti’s 1989 album of the same name) centers on the story of a young boy forced into servitude as a child soldier in an unnamed West African country. Red Crown Productions is currently putting the film together on-location in Ghana with WME holding North American rights for the film’s expected arrival by next year.
Also on deck is recent announcement of North American pick up for director James Watkins’ latest international suspense thriller, Bastille Day by Focus Features. Actress Adèle Exarchopoulos joins Elba in a script by Andrew Baldwin about a rogue CIA agent who is reluctantly forced to partner with an American con-artist to foil a terrorist plot in France. Vendome Pictures and Anonymous Content are producing the film which is expected to shoot this summer with financing by international sales agent Studiocanal.
In addition, there’s much more ahead for Elba fans and action cinephiles alike, especially for those who have grown fond of Banlieue 13, Taken and From Paris With Love helmer Pierre Morel whose new film, The Gunman, also earned a spot in Cannes this week. Based on the 2002 novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette, Elba joins actors Ray Winstone, Javier Bardem and leading man Sean Penn who plays a special forces soldier suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whose pursuit of a new life with his childhood sweetheart is stopped short when the organization he works for pulls him back in the field forcing him to trek across Europe in order to clear his name. Open Road Films picked up the North American rights to the film last week prior to unveiling its sales poster, which you can check out below.
Elba is also poised to star with actress Taraji P. Henson in the forthcoming September thriller, No Good Deed, his latest reunion with director Sam Miller since the 2010 UK television crime drama, Luther. As to whether or not he will return to guard the Bifrost once more as Heimdall for the Ragnarok storyline in Thor 3 for Marvel, that remains to be seen as things are still very early.
Stick around.
H/T: Variety, Screendaily, AICN, Cocoa Fab
Details On Nick Cheung's Role In FROM VEGAS TO MACAU 2
The Dante Lam-directed mixed martial arts drama, Unbeatable, continues to be a headline maker for actor Nick Cheung (That Demon Within, The White Storm) who just received another award earlier this month for his role in the film, hosted at 21st annual Beijing College Student Film Festival. And nowadays, with things stirring up from Cannes, you will likely hear Cheung‘s name being mentioned more often regarding his newest attachment as a debut director for the new poltergeist hunter thriller, Ghost Rituals, which is being screened for buyers along the Marché du Film courtesy of international sales agent, Darclight.
But that isn’t all for the actor-turned-director who is still in the business of acting, and you will find him doing just that now that with updated reports declaring he is set to star as new protégé alongside lead actor Chow Yun-Fat in the forthcoming sequel action adventure, From Vegas To Macau 2. Cheung‘s role was made public several days ago detailing his character as an accountant and computer expert who will often clash with Fat’s character, Ken, a spin-off revival of the titular role in the classic God Of Gamblers film franchise.
The update also confirms Cheung’s role as the replacement for actor Nicholas Tse who will be busy this year preparing to shoot scenes this August for director Master Yuen Woo-Ping in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny.
Filming for From Vegas To Macau 2, will begin its shooting schedule this June in Thailand, Mainland Macau and Hong Kong with franchise director Wong Jing returning to the helm. The film joins Chow and Cheung with actress Carina Lau.
H/T: Filmbiz Asia
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Harrison Ford Tapped To Star In BLADE RUNNER Sequel
32 years after Warner Bros theatrically released its award-winning futuristic noir thriller, Blade Runner, it appears talk of a sequel is stirring things up at Cannes this year with word that Alcon Entertainment has offered actor Harrison Ford to his reprise his role in the new film.
In the years since then, with various versions of the film being made available in one form or another until helmer Ridley Scott‘s 2007 version, The Final Cut, hopes for a sequel have periodically come and gone for various reasons, with at least one version being prepared in 2009 by Scott, along with brother, filmmaker Tony Scott before the latter reportedly committed suicide three years later.
Based on late author Phillip K. Dick’s original 1968 publication, Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, the first film is set in November in the year 2019, with Ford in the role of semi-retired LAPD detective Rick Deckhard, who, in the course of being pulled back to duty as a “blade runner” to hunt down and “retire” rogue humanoid beings called “replicants” following a bloody mutiny that led to their illegality, finds himself protecting and falling in love with Rachael (Sean Young) a replicant who believes herself to be human. The film flopped in the U.S. but gained success overseas and earned cult status among adoring sci-fi fans for becoming one of the most visually stunning and influential movies to date, in addition to, among other things, receiving preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library Of Congress.
The first film was co-written by Hampton Fancher who was also announced back in 2011 to provide the script with screen writer Michael Green. Not much is known about the plot of the new film except for Scott‘s return to the helm, and that it will take place several decades after the first film, so there is no word yet on whether or not the new film will be an original follow-up or be attributed to any of the three sequel novels written by K.W. Jeter between 1995 and 2000.
Ford has a clear momentum as of late, having just recently starred in last year’s sci-fi thriller, Ender’s Game, with an upcoming appearances in this summer’s release of The Expendables 3. More notably however, considering that Ford is returning to the big screen as Han Solo in the London production of Star Wars: Episode VII, another ‘run’ as 21-century cop in the future hunting down rogue androids would be pretty gnarly.
Stay focused, kids!
H/T: Variety
No Stone Is Left Unturned In The New Teaser For THE DIVINE MOVE
Some people take board games a little too seriously. Alas, such is the case in the upcoming release of director Jo Bum-Gu‘s new revenge thriller, The Divine Move, with a story centered on a seething underworld of Baduk gamblers, and one man’s vengeful mission to get even with the organization that wrongfully put him behind bars.
The film is making its appearance at Cannes this month, courtesy of international sales agent, Showbox/Mediaplex, so moviegoers can expect some distribution news in due time following the film’s forthcoming South Korean theatrical release in July. The Divine Move is produced by May Park and Hwang Keun-ha with a script by You Sung-Yong, and stars Jung Woo-sung (Reign of Assassins), Lee Bum-Soo (The City Of Violence) and Ahn Sung-Ki (Arahan: Urban Martial Arts Action).
SYNOPSIS:
Professional go player Tae-suk loses his brother to infamous underground gambler Salsu after losing a high-stake game. He is framed for the murder of his own brother and is locked up in prison. After serving his 7-year sentence, he gets in touch with his brother’s former associate Kkongsu, hermit and blind master player Jesus, and skillful junkyard owner Moksu and begins formulating a plan to get back at Salsu and his men. Taesuk slowly penetrates into Salsu’s inner circle and his gambling joint, and eliminates Salsu’s men one by one.
NUK SU KOW! Alain Moussi Will Lead The Cast In The Remake Of KICKBOXER
It was back in July in 2013 that two memorable action classics starring legendary superstar Jean Claude Van Damme, Bloodsport and Kickboxer were each finally announced to be remade with their own directors, with the latter to be helmed by Tai Chi 0 director, multifaceted actor and producer Stephen Fung. On Monday, almost a year later, official news finally confirmed from Cannes announcing actor, stuntman and martial artist Alain Moussi (pictured left) will be taking the lead in Fung‘s new film.
The actor most recently did stuntwork on Camille Delamarre’s directorial debut remaking the 2004 action thriller, District B13 in last month’s release of Brick Mansions, in addition to working on films such as Guillermo Del Toro’s 2013 techno monster thriller Pacific Rim, and the upcoming release of filmmaker David Hayter’s own directorial debut, Wolves with Lucas Till and Jason Momoa. Monday’s report also confirmed what may be expected as the official synopsis of the remake:
Kickboxer tells the story of David and Kurt Sloan, the descendants of a well-known Venice, Calif., fighting dynasty. When David wins the Karate World Championship, a promoter lures him to Hong Kong, despite his brother’s protestations that the man is a crook. When Kurt travels to Thailand to meet his brother, he discovers he has died, and seeks his revenge.
Fung‘s career has taken him on a journey over the years from acting to screenwriting, producing and directing films such as Tai Chi 0, Tai Chi Hero and the techno suspense thriller, Control with fellow film partner, actor Daniel Wu. In an interview with TimeOut Hong Kong back in March, Fung confirmed that Kickboxer will be an English-language remake of the original film and will also be set in Thailand, with the goal of getting “a larger Western appeal” with a more “brutal and mature” vision than his previous directorial work on Tai Chi 0 and Tai Chi Hero.
Interestingly enough, like with most martial arts fans, the original film, directed by Mark DiSalle remains a personal favorite for him, as per what inspired him to direct the film to begin with. “It’s a film that I really enjoyed watching when I was young.” he says. “Growing up in Hong Kong, you get exposed to a lot of martial arts films and we make a lot of good ones, so we have a pretty high standard. The movies that were coming in from Hollywood at that time were not very good, except Kickboxer, which was one of the good ones. Van Damme is a trained martial artist, so his moves look authentic in the film. We are not just going to do a direct remake. There has to be something of importance that warrants a remake. I hope it’s going to be a challenging experience.”
Also to boot, are the additions of The Man With The Iron Fists co-star and mixed martial artist Dave Bautista (above/left) who is set to star in the August release of Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, and actor and fellow mixed martial artist Georges St. Pierre (above/right), off the heels of portraying Batroc The Leaper opposite actor Chris Evans in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Further casting may be well on its way, with only speculation as to whether or not some fans may get their wish to see Van Damme in the film’s reimagining in one form or another.
As always with these things, time will tell. Stay tuned!
UPDATE: Read the official word from The Exchange:
Brian O’Shea, CEO of The Exchange, has announced a deal to sell the big budget reboot of the 1989 classic KICKBOXER. The Exchange will begin selling this action packed remake at this year Cannes market.
KICKBOXER will be directed by Chinese phenomenon Stephen Fung (TAI CHI ZERO, TAI CHI HERO) and produced hit maker Ted Field of Radar Pictures (RIDDICK Series, THE LAST SAMURAI). KICKBOXER will star UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER), and WWE superstar Dave Bautista (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.) The film will also be introducing Alain Moussi as its lead. Mr. Moussi is a world-renowned stunt man / martial artists, performing in such films as (X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, IMMORTALS, PACIFIC RIM, WHITEHOUSE DOWN). .”Alain is a star and will be an amazing leading man,” said Filed “Like Vin in RIDDICK, Alain will make this movie very special and this KICKBOXER reboot will be the start of an amazing franchise”.
Additional cast will be announced shortly.
David and Kurt Sloan are the descendants of a well-known Venice, California dynasty of champions. Both are top-notch fighters and athletes in the prime of their lives. When David wins the Karate World Championship, a promoter lures him to Hong Kong despite Kurt’s protests that the man is a crook. Not soon after, Kurt receives a letter from David and heads to Thailand to meet him. When he arrives, he discovers his brother is dead. The man responsible is the viscous Tong Po. Desperate to seek revenge, Kurt turns to Xian Chow, his brother’s former mentor. To defeat the man who killed his brother, Kurt must look within himself to find the strength and courage of a champion.
The film is also produced by Dimitri Logothetis and Nick Celozzi. Mike Weber and Peter Meyer will executive produce as well as Brian O’Shea, Jeff Bowler and Nat McCormick for the Exchange.
“I am very excited about KICKBOXER being in Cannes” said O’Shea, “we have a visionary director, a strong Hollywood producer, great cast and an action packed script based on a well known property – what more can you ask for?”
H/T: THR
An Assassin Becomes His Victim's Ultimate Savior In The New Trailer For NO TEARS FOR THE DEAD
Cannes attendees are going to have a ball next week when they get an eye-full of director Lee Jeong-beom‘s latest hitman crime thriller, No Tears For The Dead. The film is getting three screening dates starting next Wednesday, and in light of this, there’s a new trailer to help further retain your interest.
SYNOPSIS:
After immigrating to America and being abandoned by his own mother, Gon is raised to become a hit man. One day during a job, Gon accidentally kills a young girl and is plagued by guilt over killing an innocent child. His boss gives the despondent hit man a new job – to kill the young girl’s mother. Gon’s new target, Mo-gyeong, works as a risk manager at an investment firm. The grief-stricken mother buries herself in her work without knowing that she is in the heart of a dangerous conspiracy. Then, she meets a man who wants to tell her the truth behind the death of her child.
No Tears For The Dead stars Jang Dong-gun, Kim Min-hee, Kang Han-na and Brian Tee, and launches in Korean cinemas this June. Check out the lovely footage and keep your eyes and ears peeled for some distribution news!
Death Is No Laughing Matter In The Kazakh Revenge Thriller, JOKER
It’s not often certain titles get circulated that awaken people to the current state of action movies around the globe. Such is the case with the Republic of Kazakhstan which seems as good a place to start as any with a few films on the way from that region, including known screenwriter Talgad Zhanibekov‘s directorial debut, Joker.
Cha Seung-Won Is A Kick-Ass Diva In Two New Teasers For MAN ON HIGH HEELS
Ji-wook is a cold-blooded detective who would brutally assault and stop at nothing to catch criminals. However, despite his perfectly masculine appearance, Ji-wook struggles with a secret desire to be a woman. At last, Ji-wook decides to get a sex change. However, a gang Ji-wook brutally arrested by force plots revenge against him. While Ji-wook resigns and secretly dreams of transforming into a real woman, people close to him get caught up in a conspiracy and killed. When the one person he must protect, Jang-mi, also falls in danger, Ji-wook faces a crossroads in making his choice.
Entrapment Ensues In The New South Korean Crime Thriller, A HARD DAY
South Korean director Kim Sung-Hyun has a riveting new suspense thriller coming this summer that centers around a cop whose life takes a destructive plot twist following a fatal car accident. Simply titled, A Hard Day, the film stars Lee Sun-kyun and Cho Jin-woong, and is currently nominated to be part of the Directors’ Fortnight line-up which kicks off at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 15.
This week, we have a new full trailer following the release of a first trailer for the film earlier this month, both of which you can check out below. A Hard Day opens in South Korean cinemas on May 29.
SYNOPSIS:
On the way back from his mother’s funeral, special crimes detective Gun-su gets into an accident, killing a man instantly. In order to cover up his crime, he hides the body inside his mother’s coffin, with her inside. A few days later, Gun-su’s crime pops up on the police database and his partner is heading up the case. Gun-su feels distressed as his partner slowly uncovers more details of the accident. To make things worse, a witness to the accident approaches Gun-su by threatening his life.