marrese crump

BLOOD BROTHERS: R4 Films Developing Starring Vehicle For ‘Tom Yum Goong 2’ And ‘Jiu Jitsu’ Actor Marrese Crump [EXCLUSIVE]

Independent film duo Robert Samuels and Robert Jefferson are developing Blood Brothers, a new action thriller set as the first of a new line of feature projects out of R4 Films LLC. The duo is also in talks with actor and martial artist Marrese Crump for a lead role, with Jefferson penning the script for a hopeful Q4 2023 or early 2024 shoot in Thailand. Key story details are under wraps but I am told the film will take its key aesthetic inspiration from films like The Raid movies and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives. Both Jefferson and Samuels are producing the pic as well, in reunion with frequent collaborator Oso Tayari Casel, in addition to Mark V. Wiley who penned Samuels’ 2021 co-directing effort with James Lew, Made In Chinatown. The potential casting will mark a return to “The Land Of Smiles” for Crump who is a purveyor […]

JIU JITSU Review: Logothetis’s New Martial Arts Sci-Fi Has Blockbuster Ambitions, Barely Gets A Grip

Lee B. Golden III

Best known for reimagining 1989’s Kickboxer with two storied back-to-back reboots, filmmaker Dimitri Logothetis segways into the comic book genre for the first time, adapting Acme Rocket Fuel’s in-house IP, Jiu Jitsu. Teeming with action-heavy talent per usual, the film rejoins Logothetis with Kickboxer Vengeance and Kickboxer Retaliation star Alain Moussi, having since escalated from stunt performance to achieving leading man status for the martial arts niche. It’s not too long before the film’s biggest players join the fray setting our story in Burma, namely Nicolas Cage who appears briefly in one of the film’s opening moments following an eruptive chase sequence opener that leaves Moussi’s character injured, unconscious, and floating in the water. Pulled to safety by a farm couple and escorted to a nearby Army base, our protagonist is treated, and sooner interrogated by Army intel officer Myra (Marie Avgeropoulos) who tries to mitigate whether or not she […]

THE HIT LIST: July 9, 2018

Lee B. Golden III

Well, I didn’t think I’d make it this week for another installment of the Hit List. It doesn’t undercut the amount of content still forthcoming, especially with San Diego Comic-Con inbound so… looks like it’ll be another full plate this season. As for now, our weekly entree of inspired action and stunt feats begins as usual with a healthy appetizer of demo reels from some of today’s best and brightest stunt performers. Pat Chu gave us something to gaze at last week in a supercool fight video and he now makes his return to the Hit List with his latest stunt reel, followed by selections from Justin Howell (click here to check it out), Andrew Nadanyi (click here to check it out), Nik Pelekai, Erin Wu, Simon Li, Danny Rowe, Kimberly Root, David Lavallee Jr., Jordan Okubo, Alexey Chagai, Alex-Marshall Brown and fight choreographer Tolga Degirmen. This week in trailer news brings a […]

THE HIT LIST: June 18, 2018

Lee B. Golden III

Well I’m back in recovery mode on a chill Fathers’ Day at work and putting this week’s Hit List together. I’ll have a little more to say this December but I like how most of my summer is going so far. L to R (top): Darin Hicks, Stephanie Pham, Jordan Okubo, Carrie Bernans, Benjamin Redic II L to R (bottom): Alex Meglei, Achmad Ali Sukarno, Ben Van Huis, Christopher Troy Gonzalez, Fernando Jay Huerto Thekla Hutyrova kicks it all off for the week’s round of training and hustle reels from some of today’s earnest and up-and-coming action and stunt performers and professionals alike. The playlist beneath catapults further with some sensational footage from Andy Le of Martial Club, followed by reels courtesy of Meghan Joyce, Branden Arnold, Joseph Roark, Fernando Jay Huerto, Emily Tung, Alex Meglei, Benjamin Redic II, Flowman Fdez, Sean Murphy and latest Garage Hero prospect, actress Yamamoto […]

THE HIT LIST: April 16, 2018

Lee B. Golden III

I’m pondering taking next weekend off for the Hit List. As it stands I have a few screeners that need screening and reviewing and I haven’t at all had the time for them. Plus, a little extra time for myself would be spiffy. L to R (top): Adele Elasmar, Marrese Crump, Amber Lamarca, Troy Butler, Amy Johnston L to R (bottom): Noel Schefflin, Monique Ganderton, John Wood, Niahlah Hope, Timothy Eulich Of course, all that could change depending on the content of the coming week and if it’s too good to hold back, you can expect another entry online stunts and hits. For now, its the 16th of April and back hand-springing in her element is stuntwoman Niahlah Hope for the inaugural reel of this week’s stunt playlist. Rounding it all out are reels by Max Laferriere, Thaddeus McQueen, John Wood, Amber Lamarca, Ivan Kasnyov, Nakamura Koji, Bryan Dodds, Beni […]

THE HIT LIST – September 19, 2016

Lee B. Golden III

Follow me on Instagram and you’re more than welcome to join in on my current Gintama binge. Apart from that and my other work obligations, the newest installment of the Hit List is here and ripe with plenty of stunt talent and action to absorb for your Monday evening! Taking the lead is the usual playlist of stunt reels from some of today’s hardcore wreckers and coordinators of epic screen action and stunt work, now featuring Force Storm Entertainment’s own Noah Fleder, the pre-visual wizardry of stunt coordinator Dave Macomber, and action actor Jonny Caines with a reel featuring some spectacular new footage from a feature project currently in post-production (see more on Caines’s latest efforts here). Rounding out the playlist are Ashley Short, Craig Morgan, Aaron Delaney, Julia Maggio, Daniel Locicero, Jake Eavey, Jericho Green, Angelo Poulis, William Greenburg, Malay Kim, Tyler Hall, and the newest amalgam of action practice […]

RE-ENTERING THE DRAGON: My Pick For "The Deadly Three"

Lee B. Golden III

With the recent casting announcement of director Stephen Fung’s new Kickboxer reboot starring Alain Moussi, Scott Adkins, Tony Jaa, Dave Batista, and George St. Pierre, I felt this casting was just insane; a group of actors/martial artists that can really bring something special to the fight sequences…it’s something that many of us haven’t seen in an American martial arts film in quite some time! That thought led to this one: Whatever happened to the classic martial arts tournament movie era that started with King Boxer AKA, Five Fingers of Death and ended with, Bloodsport? (Jean Claude Van Damme is more iconic to American martial arts films then some people think). Well, nowadays we have more actors who ARE real martial artists than ever before on screen, and we’re seeing different styles and systems that were never captured on film more than forty years ago. As such, a new tournament film […]

Reel Time: ANESTI VEGA (2014)

Lee B. Golden III

Action fans may recall a conceptual featurette that was released pitching what is in the works for actor, martial artist and Floridian native Marrese Crump’s forthcoming production of Formless with actor, RZA. The project has since been in development for a number of years to date, now slightly prolonged further in part due to one of its earlier announced cast members, former Middleweight MMA champion Anderson Silva rebounding from a broken left leg during UFC 168 late last year, while Crump and the cast and crew focus on tentative obligations and potential future projects. In the meantime, Crump’s electrifying pitch for Formless brings our attention to some of that very footage now seen in the latest cinematography reel from multifaceted action film professional, martial artist and fellow Floridian, Anesti Vega, whose works have landed him the attention of numerous amazing film professionals as of 2005, from the independent scene and getting […]

[UPDATED] The Action Heats Up In The New Teaser For TOM YUM GOONG 2

Lee B. Golden III

Today we have a new trailer for the upcoming October 23, 2013 release of Tom Yum Goong 2. This week’s trailer brings news of new character posters, including a new poster unveiled for actor and co-star, RZA, in addition to a synopsis that gives fans a brief idea about what will take place in Prachya Pinkaew‘s latest 3D martial arts action feature. The upcoming film also arises with action hero Tony Jaa‘s latest reinsurgence into the mainstream with a new role in his first upcoming Hollywood debut with director James Wan’s Fast And Furious 7. Tom Yum Goong 2 also stars RZA, Jeeja Yanin, Ratha Phongarm and Petchtai Wongkamlao, along with rising martial arts star and co-fight choreographer Marrese Crump. SYNOPSIS: Kham (Tony Jaa) has become the suspect in the murder of Suchart- the influential owner of an elephant camp, who was killed by three punches to the dead spots […]

New Posters And Banner Arrive For TOM YUM GOONG 2

Lee B. Golden III

From L to R: Jeeja Yanin, Tony Jaa, Ratha Phongarm and Petchtai Wongkamlao Over the past week, the official Facebook page for director Prachya Pinkaew‘s upcoming 3D action spectacle, Tom Yum Goong 2, has been unveiling several character posters and subsequent banner, so far featuring lead action stars Tony Jaa and Jeeja Yanin, actor Petchtai Wongkamlao and actress Ratha Phongarm. On Wednesday, the page unveiled its newest poster for actor, co-star and rising action performer Marrese Crump, who’s been busy making headlines of his own with the development of his next film, Formless. Check it out: The official teaser for Tom Yum Goong 2 has since made its way online back in July, with the film slated for domestic release on October 24, 2013 in Thailand. The film has currently been picked up by Magnolia Pictures for a fourthcoming North American release date. Check out the official synopsis below the […]

Four Years Later, FORMLESS Takes Form With New Action Concept Footage

Lee B. Golden III

Breakout action star Marrese Crump is joining hip hop artist, producer and filmmaker, The RZA and action choreographer Panna Ritthikrai in working on bringing martial arts cinema fans the next wave in action with a new film called FORMLESS. The film began developing in 2010 and is a continuation of Crump’s partnership with Ritthikrai since completing Tony Jaa’s upcoming Thai action blockbuster sequel, TOM YUM GOONG 2. Filming is currently in progress as details about the film are few as things stand. Cast details so far include names such as current UFC middleweight champion, mixed martial artist Anderson Silva, K-1 champion Buakaw Por Pramuk, and Filipino Martial Arts legend, Ray Dionaldo. As the story develops, a new action concept teaser has been unveiled to promote the style of fighting which will be used in the upcoming film. You can check out that footage below. Ritthikrai is also tied to another film […]

Things Take Form For Marrese Crump's FORMLESS

Lee B. Golden III

Prior to the release of the upcoming film, Tom Yum Goong 2, martial arts action performer, stuntman and choreographer Marrese Crump and hip hop artist, writer, actor and director, RZA, have been benefitting off of each other’s creativity, brainstorming in Thailand with filmmaker Prachya Pinkaew and fight choreographer Panna Rittikrai. Not a lot has been said since 2010 when things began developing, but for now, details seem to accumulate what will be an upcoming martial arts film production called Formless. According to the Spanish-language blogspot, Cine de Artes Marcial, filming for the new collaboration starring Crump and directed by Prachya Pinkaew is set to begin this May, three years in the making since Crump began training and choreographing fight scenes along with Rittikrai and several members of the Ong Bak Stunt Team. The film is also being co-written between Crump and Anesti Vega who documented some cool casting details on […]