jesse johnson

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THE BEAUTIFUL ONES: Jesse V. Johnson’s Gangster Noir Romance Kills In Color In The Official U.S. Trailer

While action fans wait patiently for what’s to come with Jesse Johnson’s newest on Accident Man and Triple Threat, his most recent topic of acquisition, The Beautiful Ones, already comes as a highly accredited piece of work. The film, starring Ross McCall (Band Of Brothers) as a L.A. mob family shylock who falls in love with a rival family’s daughter amid a brewing turf war, was brilliantly shot and screened in Black and White, coupling it with an aesthetic that lended its signature appeal and making it the kind of film that we nary see this day and age.

Close to never, in fact. Thus, one has to wonder why Gravitas Ventures, after acquiring the film in February, would even bother selling it in color. That appears to be the case now in the most recent trailer making the rounds as if it looks to sell a different movie almost altogether to a certain extent. Those who’ve seen it and likely gave glowing reviews in the past year or so know what I’m talking about and hopefully this is just a ruse but the film doesn’t need to be sold in color in order for it to work as the movie itself works just fine.

McCall is joined by actress Fernanda Andrade and actors Brian Tee and Eric Roberts. Gravitas Ventures is on course to release the film on July 11 on Blu-Ray, DVD and VoD.

Check out the trailer below and feel free to look up previous iterations of it in black and white and let us know what you think.

The Beautiful Ones from Gravitas Ventures on Vimeo.

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Arclight Takes Ensemble Martial Arts Thriller, TRIPLE THREAT To Cannes

Director Jesse V. Johnson’s latest effort, Triple Threat, has entered the last stages of filming in time for its Cannes World Market Premiere this week from Arclight Films. The film certainly took sometime to evolve since late 2016 and evidently came together in the past several months in the course of building its remarkable cast and potential.

TRIPLE THREAT is an adrenaline-fueled action film that brings together the three biggest new action Asian stars in one thrilling movie. 

The film is based on a hit contract taken out on a billionaire’s daughter intent on bringing down a major crime syndicate. A down and out team of mercenaries must take on a group of professional assassins and stop them before they kill their target.

Hailing an ensemble English-language action thriller from a script by Joey O’Bryan and Paul Staheli is an Asian trio of leading stars Tony Jaa (Ong Bak Trilogy, Furious 7, xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage), Tiger Chen (Man Of Tai Chi) and Iko Uwais (The Raid 1 & 2, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Headshot). Also starring are Scott Adkins (Marvel’s Doctor Strange, The Expendables 2), Michael Jai White (Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing), Celina Jade (CW series Arrow, Wolf Warrior 2), Michael Bisping (xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage) and JeeJa Yanin (Chocolate, Raging Phoenix).

“I don’t believe anyone has seen a martial arts action cast like this before. Everyone brought their A-game, and the dynamics on set were awesome. The action combined with a very solid story line sets this film apart from others of its genre. If this movie doesn’t get your adrenalin flowing, nothing will.” Said producer Michael Selby. 

“We are so excited to bring the superstars of the ground-breaking action films ONG BAK, THE RAID and MAN OF TAI CHI together in a “triple threat” package. This is the first time all three stars will be in a film together and we’re thrilled to be a vital part of the TRIPLE THREAT team.” Said Ying Ye, a producer on the film and Managing Director of Easternlight, Arclight Films’ specialty arm showcasing Asian cinema with the largest film library of any non Asian-based indie film label.

Triple Threat is produced by Shanghai Aurora Alliance and SC Films with backing from Arclight along with Kungfuman Culture Media, and Beijing ManyouguCompany Ltd. Joining Selby and Ye along with actor Chen are Gary Hamilton and Mike Gabrawy in producing with Elliot Tong serving as executive producer. (ScreenAnarchy)

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ACCIDENT MAN Tumbles Online In A New Production Still

As filmmaker Jesse Johnson nears his end with Asian ensemble thriller, Triple Threat, so continues the journey of another with his other of several Scott Adkins headliners, Accident Man. Actress Amy Johnston (Lady Bloodfight) shared a recent photo of herself and our protagonist in gravity-defying fashion which you can view below.

There’s no telling of a release schedule just yet as the film is still in post-production. Adkins, opposite Johnston, stars in the title role inspired by the once popular British comic book of the same name, telling of a cavalier “cleaning” expert who sets out for vengeance when his beloved girlfriend is murdered.

Also starring are Ashley Greene, Ray Stevenson, Ray Park and fellow Triple Threat co-star Michael Jai White from a script by Adkins who also produces, and writer/co-star Stu Small

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TRIPLE THREAT Casts Hong Kong Cinema Star Michael Wong

There are about two weeks or so left for the Thailand filming of Jesse Johnson’s new Asian action thriller, Triple Threat with Tony Jaa, Tiger Chen and Iko Uwais starring. For this, it’s only now that the production is making official the addition of actor Michael Wong (Cold War, Z Storm, Skiptrace) to the cast. The news was shared on the film’s current fanpage on Facebook via photo which you can view below with Wong featured between Chen and Jaa.

The film sees our action hero line-up leading the film from a script by Joey O’Bryan centered on actress Celina Jade in the role of a a billionaire’s daughter who seeks protection from a murderous cartel with the help of a trio of badass mercenaries, one of whom has more vengeful intentions. Comprising our villain line-up are martial arts stars, actors Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Jeeja Yanin, Michael Bisping and Ron Smoorenburg.

Check out the pic below!

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ACCIDENT MAN: Scott Adkins Dodges Danger In The First Official Photo

Martial arts action star Scott Adkins is currently treading the streets of Thailand as one of the key antagonists on the set of Jesse Johnson’s ensemble action thriller, Triple Threat. In the meantime, post production is already underway for the previous completion from the duo with an adaptation of British comic book thriller, Accident Man which Adkins also produces.

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The Cartel Assembles For Jesse Johnson’s TRIPLE THREAT

It wasn’t made clear just to what capacity actress Jeeja Yanin’s role in Jesse Johnson’s new movie, Triple Threat, would extend at the time when we broke the exclusive back in March. Needless to say that mystery now comes to an end with the Raging Phoenix and Chocolate star donning some serious tactical gear in a new promo photo featuring herself among the antagonists for the new Asian action movie currently in production in Thailand.

Yanin’s cohorts as seen below include Ron Smoorenburg and Scott Adkins, Michael Bisping and Michael Jai White outlining the murderous cartel from which leading action stars Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais and Tiger Chen must protect a billionaire’s daughter, played by none other than Celina Jade. SC Films International’s own Mike Selby is producing along with Mike Gabrawy and Gary Hamilton of Arclight Films. Actor Chen is also producing the film as will Elliot Tong and Ying Ye with Seng Stunt comprising the stunt team and Tim Man serving as action director. Shanghai Aurora Alliance is financing the film.

The film is a first outing for Jaa, Uwais and Chen as a headlining trio who’ve been attached together since the project’s completely different make-up as Makeshift Squad which we exclusively broke late last year. It also marks the third and latest foray for Johnson and Adkins proceeding the recently completed Savage Dog and the new comic book adaptation, Accident Man which is now in post production.

Peep the photo below!

Photos courtesy of Jeeja Yanin via Facebook

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Celina Jade And Jeeja Yanin Join TRIPLE THREAT

EXCLUSIVE: Actresses Celina Jade (CW’s Arrow) and Jeeja Yanin (Raging Phoenix) have been officially cast in the new ensemble action movie, Triple Threat from Arclight Films and SC Films Thailand. Jesse V. Johnson (The Package, The Beautiful Ones) is directing from a script by Joey O’Bryan for production to commence in Thailand on April 12.

Triple Threat joins our female components with an ensemble cast encompassing a raft of heavy hitters, including Tiger Chen (Man Of Tai Chi), Tony Jaa (xXx 3) and Iko Uwais (Headshot) opposite Scott Adkins (Doctor Strange), Michael Jai White (Blood And Bone) and UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping (xXx 3). The action-packed story follows a billionaire’s daughter whose only hope for protection from a ruthless cartel are two ill-fated fighters and a third seeking vegenace on the others.

Jade, who previously starred alongside Jaa opposite White in Ekachai Uekrongtham’s Skin Trade in 2015, will play the female lead while the details circling Yanin’s role are currently under wraps. The latter, following her principal role in season two of HBO Asia’s Halfworlds, recently cameoed with Jaa in White’s trilogical MMA action pic, Never Back Down: No Surrender.

Following breaking trade reports over the past week, SC Films International’s own Mike Selby is producing along with Mike Gabrawy and Gary Hamilton of Arclight Films. Actor Chen is also producing the film as will Elliot Tong and Ying Ye with Tim Man serving as action director. Shanghai Aurora Alliance is financing the film.

Adkins and White are expected to appear in Johnson’s latest British comic book adaptation, Accident Man, following Adkins’s upcoming starring role in Johnson’s period action thriller, Savage Dog from XLrator Media. Jade is confirmed to re-join her Legendary Assassin star, actor and filmmaker Wu Jing in the forthcoming release of Wolf Warrior 2 this July while Jaa’s newest action thriller, Paradox awaits its release with Louis Koo, Wu Yue and Chris Collins starring.

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TRIPLE THREAT Multiplies The Danger With Adkins, White And Bisping; Jesse V. Johnson To Direct

EXCLUSIVE: In the months since its evolution, the highly anticipated action thriller, Triple Threat (formely Makeshift Squad) has been a bookmark for many an Asian cinema fan looking to see just how this particular “Asian-Expendables” kind of movie this will bring about. The prospects have been good, too, and notably in the wake of its casting additions including headliners Tiger Chen (Man Of Tai Chi), Tony Jaa (Furious Seven) and Iko Uwais (Headshot), and particularly with 87eleven’s own Chad Stahelski (John Wick: Chapter 2) behind the action scenes.

Bearing all this in mind, an attached director has not been entirely certain with earlier names Gary Mak and Wang Xiaolie having circled the project, the latter reported by the time of its acquisition over at international sales outfit Arclight Films late last year. Moreover, with Stahelski poised to move forward with a hopeful third installment of the hit John Wick franchise after Lionsgate’s Highlander reboot, it bears asking what, if anything has changed?

For this, we can now report that a source close to the production has confirmed Jesse V. Johnson to direct the film which tells of our aforementioned trio starring as tough Asian mercenary types reuniting after years apart to foil a nefarious plot. In addition, we can report the additions of extra martial arts action movie muscle with actors Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins and Michael Bisping rounding out the current cast. Exact story details are yet to be fully known while another writer has been attached to pen the script following a previous draft written by Dwayne Smith.

Monday’s casting additions mark several reunions themselves with Adkins, having battled across the astral planes opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Marvel’s Doctor Strange, sharing credits with White on Isaac Florentine’s Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing and France 4 TV series, Metal Hurlant Chronicles. Both recently paired once more for Johnson’s forthcoming British comic book adaptation, Accident Man which is now in post-production with Ray Stevenson, Ashley Greene, Ray Park and Amy Johnston also starring from a script by Stu Small, and Adkins who also produces. The film also marks another paring for White with fellow Skin Trade star Jaa, the latter who also joined Bisping, the current UFC Middleweight Champion, who made his own film stint in Paramount’s xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage which has grossed nearly $340 million dollars at the box office.

Pre-production is underway in Thailand with Seng Stunt Team comprising the framework of the film’s stunt performance with fight choreography led by Tim Man who designed the action seen in Adkins starrers Ninja 2: Shadow Of A Tear, and James Nunn’s Eliminators, as well as Johnson’s Accident Man in which Man also co-stars. Cameras are expected to roll in May.

Johnson’s latest completed action film, Savage Dog, which joins Adkins with JuJu Chan, Marko Zaror and Cung Le will release later this year in the U.S. from XLrator Media, as will the director’s upcoming action romance noir, The Beautiful Ones, from Gravitas Ventures. Release details for Adkins’s latest contribution to the ringside MMA fervor in Todor Chapkanov’s Boyka: Undisputed, remain pending following its Fantastic Fest 2016 premiere.

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Jesse V. Johnson To Adapt ACCIDENT MAN; Casts Ashley Greene

Director Jesse Johnson (The Package, The Beautiful Ones) is all about surprises as of late and with his latest, Accident Man, we’re bound for a plateful. For now, the word is out with the addition of actress Ashley Greene, prominently known for her role in the Twilight Saga, now cast as one of the leads.

Styled as an ultraviolent tale similar to Deadpool, Accident Man hails from the auspices of UK comic book publisher, Toxic!, created by Pat Mills in the early 90’s. Deadline reports that Greene will take on the role of Charlie, a woman with whom our protagonist, cavalier assassin and expert clean-up man, Mike Fallon, team up to investigate and avenge the death of Fallon’s beloved Beth.

Other credits and specifics haven’t been confirmed in the report but I’m almost certain that this will likely blow the lid off the action movie fandom ceiling in due time. Filming begins this month, so I advise you to stick around for more on Accident Man.

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Cung Le Joins Adkins, Zaror And Chan For SAVAGE DOG

While all we know of director Jesse V. Johnson’s latest production, Savage Dog, is what were shown on the Cannes poster, the expectations are high with action stars, actors Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror, and actress JuJu Chan starring. That said, Zaror himself seems the go-to guy as of late via Instagram as much in touch as he is with his fanbase about his projects.

For this, we get a new photo of Zaror cheering his fellow co-star, actor Cung Le whose best known credits on film include Bodyguards And Assassins (2009), The Man With The Iron Fists (2012) and Puncture Wounds (2014). Le has since retired from his days as an MMA fighter for the UFC nearly a year-and-a-half ago which obviously leaves more time for him to grow his career in film with at least one title he’s been teasing for a few years now while in the development phase, Codename: The Dragon.

Plot and character specifics for Savage Dog remain pending as production continues with Bleiberg Entertainment behind the project. As for our director and actors on hand, Johnson’s The Beautiful Ones, Adkins’s Hard Target 2, Boyka: Undisputed and Doctor Strange, Zaror’s The Green Ghost, Sultan and forthcoming appearance in season 3 of El Rey Network’s From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series, and Alain Desrocher’s Security with Le and lead actor Antonio Banderas are all worth noting.

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