ABOVE AND BELOW Review: Antonio Banderas Shows His Teeth In Jesse V. Johnson’s Shark Survival Thriller
Opening in theaters on July 29
jesse v. johnson
THIEVES HIGHWAY Hits The Road For Jesse V. Johnson’s New Crime Thriller
Avengement and Triple Threat helmer Jesse V. Johnson will next direct crime thriller Thieves Highway. The film stars Devon Sawa (The Fanatic, Gasoline Alley), and also reteams Johnson with actor Aaron Eckhart (Chief Of Station), along with 308 Enterprises own Corey Large (One Ranger) who is producing. Johnson is directing from a script by Travis Mills, the story of an Oklahoma Stock Detective (Eckhart) in over his head in the “Breaking Bad” world of modern cattle rustling. Kirk Shaw (The Hurt Locker, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, Extraction), Jordan Nott (Assassination) and Jon Keeyes (White Elephant) are exec producing. BondIt Media Capital and Pink 308 will finance. Red Sea Media is handling international sales and debuting the film for buyers at the Marché du Film in Cannes. “’THIEVES HIGHWAY’ is a passion project, for Aaron and me. We spent a lot of time developing Travis Mills’ script, embracing factual anecdotes and […]
Jesse V. Johnson’s CHIEF OF STATION Lands At Vertical For May U.S. Release
One other upcoming prospect for action fans will be the release of Chief Of Station, from director Jesse V. Johnson. Deadline reported on Thursday that Vertical Entertainment has nabbed the pic and will release the film in May. Hailing from Bee Holder Productions and sales agent Concourse Media, Chief Of Station stars Aaron Eckhart who returns to the label following the release of Renny Harlin actioner, The Bricklayer, earlier in January. The film also reteams Johnson with White Elephant and Boudica star Olga Kurylenko, from a script by George Mahaffey. After learning that the death of his wife was not an accident, a former CIA Station Chief (Aaron Eckhart) is forced back into the espionage underworld, teaming up with his protege (Alex Pettyfer) and a rogue agent (Olga Kurylenko) to unravel a dark conspiracy that challenges everything he thought he knew. Further reteaming with the director are Avengement actor Nick […]
BOUDICA Review: Olga Kurylenko’s Conquest Is All The Bloody Celtic Rage
Boudica opens on digital platforms in the UK beginning October 30 from Signature Entertainment. Black Widow and The Princess actress Olga Kurylenko has a few forthcoming screen credits with director Jesse Johnson, following their previous collaboration on 2023 crime thriller, White Elephant. Their latest pairing will arrive with Johnson’s inspired 60 A.D.-set period epic, Boudica, chronicling the legendary warrior queen’s campaign of retribution against the Roman empire. The first several minutes of Boudica makes it inherently clear what kind of film you’ll be in for if an R-rating isn’t enough of a hint. Severed necks, blood geysers, exposed innards, and all-out screaming deaths are on the menu as Caesar Augustus Nero’s (Harry Kirton) military, led by Commander Paulinus (Kris Johnson), mows down hundreds of druids on the island of Mona. The event is only the latest amid Rome’s takeover of most of Europe, with Britannia being the last, ruled by […]
BOUDICA: Olga Kurylenko Rages As The Ancient Warrior Queen In The Official UK Trailer
Director Jesse V. Johnson continues his reign as a genre favorite with recent hits like The Beautiful Ones, Accident Man and Avengement in his rearview. One of his more recent completions now finds him dealing in the medieval arena with none other than Olga Kurylenko taking the mantle for Johnson’s Boudica, based on the real-life legend of the ancient warrioress. This historical action is the bold, bloody story of the Celtic Queen. King Prasutagus rules over the Iceni people with his wife Boudica by his side, but when he is betrayed and killed, Boudica’s kingdom is left without a male heir and the Romans seize her land. Determined to avenge her husband’s death, Boudica rallies the tribes from the region and wages an epic war against the Roman Empire. Boudica’s life and legend has been the center of other media projects before, although Johnson’s film finally marks something a little […]
ONE RANGER: A Texas Ranger Tackles International Terrorism In The Official Trailer
We’re still a ways from Boudica and Chief Of Station (and a Triple Threat sequel, godwilling), but it won’t be long before Jesse V. Johnson’s work makes its way back to our screens with the release of One Ranger, starring Thomas Jane. Lionsgate is out with the trailer as of yesterday and is releasing the film in theaters and on Demand from May 5. British Intelligence meets Texas Justice in this white-knuckle action-thriller. A gunslinging Texas ranger (Thomas Jane) tracks a bank robber (Dean Jagger) across the desert—only to learn he’s an international terrorist set on detonating a bomb in the heart of London. When the his partner is killed, he is drawn into partnership with a British intelligence agent (Dominique Tipper) along with her boss (John Malkovich) to bring the outlaw to justice — dead or alive. Also starring are Jess Liaudin, Rachel Wilde, Nick Moran, and Patrick Bergin. […]
BOUDICA Artwork Lends Multiple Looks At Olga Kurylenko In Jesse V. Johnson’s Celtic Sword Epic
I’m told that Bleiberg/Dimbort scored some great sales during EFM this month on upcoming period sword epic, Boudica, the details of which remain under wraps until the trades speak further on the matter. In the meantime, one of the biggest reveals was the key sales art which also appeared in Screendaily’s Digital Magazine over the weekend, and now we have some new sample art courtesy of the creators behind the initial artwork, MOT Creative, which you can spool through via Instagram in the embed below. Written and directed by Jesse V. Johnson, Boudica marks a reunion for the director with White Elephant actress Olga Kurylenko whose recent credits also partly include Marvel’s Black Widow, and Hulu period actioner The Princess. Set in A.D. 60 and inspired by true events, Kurylenko takes the mantle as the titular trained Celtic warrior who rules modernized and cultured Iceni alongside her husband Prastagus (Clive […]
WHITE ELEPHANT: Win A Blu-Ray Copy Of Jesse V. Johnson’s New Action Thriller
Jesse V. Johnson’s latest action thriller, White Elephant, is just days away from its release on Blu-Ray and DVD on August 5 from RLJE Films. For this, we’re giving away two Blu-Ray copies for fans who can answer the following trivia: The role that actor Michael Rooker plays in White Elephant is based on a character seen in another Jesse V. Johnson-directed action movie. Name that movie! The instructions are pretty simple from there, and for that matter, they only apply to U.S. residents for entries. Our giveaway also expires on August 1 at 12:00 noon ET, so feel free to dive in and send your responses here using ‘WHITE ELEPHANT’ in the subject label. As for all things White Elephant, feel free to check out my review!
WHITE ELEPHANT Review: Jesse V. Johnson’s Service To Action Fans Self-Sustains
2022 is still a relevant year to be a Jesse V. Johnson fan, particularly this summer if you’re subscribed to streaming platforms like AMC+ or Well Go USA’s Hi-YAH TV, the latter where a few of his titles will soon be arriving. The former of course is currently running the exclusive premiere of his latest film, White Elephant, returning Johnson to the gangster genre once more following up the explosive turn out at the helm for Nina Bergman starrer, Hell Hath No Fury. Mob boss Arnold Solomon (Bruce Willis) and his lawyer Glen (John Malkovich) are on the precipice of a business deal with the Russians, which effectively means eliminating the competitive Mexican cartel. Caught in the mix of their violent retribution are two cops staking out the cartel who end up getting made by Solomon’s people, including Vanessa Flynn (Olga Kurylenko) who now finds herself in the wind after […]
WHITE ELEPHANT Trailer: Michael Rooker Tenders His Resignation In A Hail Of Bullets!
ComingSoon.net and IGN doled out the exclusive goods on Monday with assets for Jesse V. Johnson’s new thriller, White Elephant with Michael Rooker, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Olga Kurylenko. That ultimately includes the first trailer which you can view above as RLJE Films sets course for select theaters and streaming app AMC+ starting June 3. When an assassination attempt is witnessed by two cops, Gabriel Tancredi, an ex-marine turned mob enforcer (Michael Rooker), is ordered by his ruthless mob boss (Bruce Willis) to eliminate any and all threats. With an eager underling out to prove himself, rival gangs making moves, and a rising body count, every step Tancredi makes threatens lives…including his own. White Elephant is directed by Jesse V. Johnson (Avengement, The Debt Collector) from a script by Johnson and Erik Martinez (Kung Fu Pho). The film also stars Olga Kurylenko, Vadhir Derbez, and John Malkovich. RLJE Films […]
HELL HATH NO FURY Review: War Games And Psy-Ops Outline A Peculiar Heroine’s WWII Tale
Filmmaker Jesse V. Johnson has certainly lived up to the hype as one of the most prominent action genre directors working today; Frankly, I’m almost curious to see how well he would bode in the horror or sci-fi genres. To this end, he’s also one of the most consistent when it comes to his distinctive style at times, and an adherence to bygone cinema, history and philosophy plays well here, especially with his most recent World War II thriller drama, Hell Hath No Fury. The film sets sail at the tail-end of the war where we meet Marie (Nina Bergman), the former lover of an elite Nazi guardsman named Von Bruckner (Daniel Bernhardt). In the span of three years and with France gaining its freedom with remnants of Hitler’s army vacating, Marie finds herself in not-so-cozy bearings after spending three years in prison with her headshaven and a swastika painted […]
BOUDICA: ‘Hell Hath No Fury’ Helmer To Direct Warrior Queen Epic Later This Year
Action veteran Jesse V. Johnson (Hell Hath No Fury, Savage Dog, Avengement upcoming White Elephant) will shoot warrior queen epic, Boudica, in Wales this August. Johnson will direct from his own script with actress Olga Kurylenko (Quantum Of Solace, Black Widow, Sentinelle) starring in the title role. Inspired by events in A.D. 60, Boudica follows the eponymous Celtic warrior who rules the Iceni people alongside her husband Prasutagus. When he dies at the hands of Roman soldiers, Boudica’s kingdom is left without a male heir and the Romans seize her land and property. Driven to the edge of madness and determined to avenge her husband’s death, Boudica rallies the various tribes from the region and wages an epic war against the mighty Roman empire. Pic hails from Bleiberg Entertainment and Picture Perfect; Ehud Bleiberg is producing with Johnson, with Danny Dimbort, Nicholas Bennett and Ariel Bleiberg exec producing. Bleiberg/Dimbort will […]
HELL HATH NO FURY Explodes Onto DVD And Blu-Ray Next Month
Well Go USA is proudly releasing Jesse V. Johnson’s latest period WWII thriller, Hell Hath No Fury, on Blu-Ray and DVD from December 21. Actress, singer/songwriter and model Nina Bergman (Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (VG), Assassin X, The Wayshower) headlines the new film with a cast that also lists Daniel Bernhardt (The Matrix franchise, John Wick, Atomic Blonde), Louis Mandylor (The Debt Collector, My Big Fat Greek Wedding I and II), Timothy V. Murphy (“Snowpiercer,” “Sons of Anarchy”), former French Foreign Legion Special Forces soldier and knife-fighting technician Dominiquie Vandenberg (Triple Threat, The Mercenary, Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York) and Josef Cannon (Helsing University). HELL HATH NO FURY is the story of one woman who single-handedly takes on the might of the German war machine, the French resistance, and a band of US infantrymen. Branded a traitor by her countrymen, French national Marie DuJardin is rescued by American soldiers on one condition: to survive, she must lead […]
A Love Of The Fury: A Conversation With Director Jesse V. Johnson
Jesse V. Johnson loves cinema. Working in various levels of film productions since the early 1990s, the English-born filmmaker first made his name as a stunt performer working on such high profile projects as the original TOTAL RECALL, STARSHIP TROOPERS, WAR OF THE WORLDS, and dozens more. This led to Johnson being a stunt coordinator, a second unit director, and eventually an accomplished feature director. Staying true to his stunt background, the films Johnson has directed are action-packed affairs such as THE DEBT COLLECTOR, TRIPLE THREAT, and AVENGEMENT (to name just a few) that value practical effects and physical performers more than expensive CGI-laden spectacle. And throughout his constant climb to get where he is today, recognized as one of the strongest voices in action filmmaking among people who truly value that genre, he has never lost that love of cinema. This fact is abundantly clear when looking at his […]
HELL HATH NO FURY Review: Bloody World War Two Combat From Director Jesse V. Johnson
In the waning days of World War Two, a small group of American soldiers, led by the cunning Major Maitland, are heading to a forgotten graveyard in the French countryside. With them is Marie, recently freed from a Nazi prison but still labeled a German sympathizer by her fellow French countrymen. Maitland and his men pulled her from an angry mob due to assurances that she would lead them to a cache of stolen Nazi gold that was left hidden by her and her former lover, a member of Hitler’s elite guard named “Von Bruckner.” What none of them realize is that Von Bruckner is abandoning Germany’s losing war effort; with plans to head overseas with his loyal followers. So, he is also making his way to that same graveyard in hopes of retrieving the gold and when he arrives with his squad it will set off a bloody and […]
HELL HATH NO FURY Like Nina Bergman Shootin’ Down Some Nazis In The Official Trailer
Director Jesse V. Johnson makes an explosive return to theaters later this year thanks to Well Go USA with its recent acquisition of WWII thriller, Hell Hath No Fury. Joining in is actress Nina Bergman who’s been long in the running for years to spearhead a Johnson pic having once shared the set for a Wonder Woman fan project years earlier. HELL HATH NO FURY is the story of one woman who single-handedly takes on the might of the German war machine, the French resistance, and a band of US infantrymen. Branded a traitor by her countrymen, French national Marie DuJardin is rescued by American soldiers on one condition: to survive, she must lead them to a cache of gold—before the Nazis return to claim it for themselves. Bergman is joined by Daniel Bernhardt, Louis Mandylor, Timothy V. Murphy and former French Foreign Legion Special Forces soldier and knife-fighting technician Dominiquie Vandenberg. […]
HELL HATH NO FURY: Jesse V. Johnson WWII Thriller Rages This November
Well Go USA is placing its feet firmly in a November 5 select theatrical release for World War II action thriller, Hell Hath No Fury. The Planos, Texas-based firm acquired the title on Friday, signaling its reunion with stuntman-cum-filmmaker Jesse V. Johnson (Avengement, The Debt Collector, Well Go USA’s Triple Threat). Headlined by Nina Bergman (Doom: Annihilation, Assassin X, video game Call of Duty: Black Ops 4), Hell Hath No Fury, according to the announcement “is at its essence a story about one woman who single-handedly takes on the might of the German war machine, a ragtag unit of US infantrymen, and the likes of the French resistance as each faction searches for a cache of gold stolen by the Nazis.” “We are thrilled to once again be working with Jesse, who has long been known both for his action chops and his knack for finding new stories nestled amongst oft-portrayed […]
WHITE ELEPHANT Adds John Malkovich And More To The Jesse V. Johnson Action Thriller Now In Production
Actor John Malkovich (Valley Of The Gods, Ava) leads an additional list of names joining Bruce Willis-led actioner, White Elephant. News of the film broke on Thursday through mainstream trade outlets also hailing actress Olga Kurylenko (The Courier) and Michael Rooker (The Suicide Squad) from a script by Erik Martinez, and action stalwart Jesse V. Johnson (Avengement, Triple Threat) who directs. The film, currently shooting in Georgia, also stars actor Vadhir Derbez (The Seventh Day), who plays Carl, a burgeoning assassin who botches his latest job, forcing his mentor, ex-marine-turned-mob enforcer Gabriel Tancredi (Willis) to mitigate his conscience and code of honor in order to set things right. The film also reteams Johnson with Debt Collectors co-stars Josef Cannon and Louie “Ski” Carr. Corey Large (Cosmic Sin, It Follows, The November Man, Lone Survivor) is producing the film for 308 Enterprises. The Exchange is handling international sales. Follow Johnson on Instagram for […]
WHITE ELEPHANT: New Jesse V. Johnson Thriller Underway In Georgia Starring Bruce Willis
Jesse V. Johnson is taking the mantle for The Exchange’s latest world sales acquistion, White Elephant, casting Bruce Willis (Cosmic Sin), Olga Kurylenko (The Courier) and Michael Rooker (Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy) according to Scott Roxborough’s exclusive via The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. Production is already underway in Georgia from a script Johnson wrote with Erik Martinez, with Corey Large of 308 Productions producing, and BondIt Media fully financing, and sales slated for next week’s virtual market at Cannes. Willis stars as Gabriel Tancredi, an ex-marine-turned-mob enforcer who must battle his conscience and code of honor when he is forced to help clean up a botched assassination job by his protégé, Carl (Rooker). Scott Roxborough, THR The report notes the film’s fifth Willis-led collaborative effort between Large, BondIt Media Capital, and The Exchange – the latest being Chuck Russell’s Paradise City which broke news last week. That film (fifteen years in […]
DEBT COLLECTORS: Violence Is The Inevitable Answer In The Official Trailer
Debt Collectors. Plural. Seems there is life after death after all for Scott Adkins and Louis Mandylor, reprising their roles once more from their brutal and witful 2018 venture in sequel reunion with director Jesse V. Johnson helming the storied gangland calamity. Eagle-eyed fans caught on early to the news of a May 15 release which has otherwise now been rerouted instead, to a May 29 releade on VOD, Digital and DVD from Samuel Goldwyn Films. This week, the company rolled out the official trailer to get the chatter going. Debt collectors French and Sue get to work doing what they do best – cracking skulls and breaking bones – as they chase down the various lowlifes who owe money to their boss, Tommy. They’re summoned to Las Vegas to collect from a dirty casino owner, who happens to be a vicious ex-lover of Sue’s. Meanwhile, a notorious drug kingpin […]
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