mile 22

MILE 22, And How Far The Next One Should Go

Lee B. Golden III

I take issue when a director finds inspiration in a well-known, habitual white nationalist for creative purposes and then actually applies him as an easter egg in what’s supposed to be a taut, escapist espionage action thriller. That being said, if you’re awake to politics these days, you’re forgiven for looking at Peter Berg a bit funny-like for pulling this shit in designing what Mark Wahlberg performs for what would have otherwise been an interesing character with some cool, high moments. Apart from all this, Berg’s action-packed and always-moving sequel-setter-upper, Mile 22, in its rental-worthy entirety (or ownership depending on how much money you have to waste) is a very watchable, often stimulating and entertaining thriller at times, otherwise undone by an approach to the script that makes it look like a lurid, sometimes jarring contest among caricatures to see who can look and sound more angry and tough at […]

20180913_102745

MILE 22 Stretches Home This October And November

Lee B. Golden III

I’ve had handfuls of conversations about Peter Berg’s Mile 22, and they do sort of speak to my dimming enthusiasm for the film since the lot us penned and hyped the possibility of seeing Iko Uwais flourish in a new potential franchise. Admittedly, the more the PR became centric on Mark Wahlberg, the less I was sold on the idea of this film actually being prospective, and then came the reviews and reactions upon its theatrical release last month.It was also off-putting to learn in an interview at Empire that the creation of the character Wahlberg plays was partly inspired by this blithering piece of shit in particular, politics nothwithstanding. Needless to say, I saved my money and so I plan on streaming this one instead. Clearly there are a select number of critics whose reviews have been cherrypicked specifically to help sell this film to homebound consumers and likely […]

MILE 22 Featurette Brings Iko Uwais Front And Center

Lee B. Golden III

Is it me? Or does Mark look more and more like he needs more sleep? Word is that he needed some serious coffee rounds in order to stay “lit” on the set of his newest action thriller, Mile 22. It’s worth reiterating, however, that in all likelihood I’ll be seeing this in support of its biggest action star on set: Iko Uwais. The guy has several films rolling out before 2019 (including Timo Tjahjanto’s feature directing debut/Fantastic Fest pick, The Night Comes For Us) and Peter Berg’s newest endeavor from STX Entertainment is one of them as of the next few weeks The new featurette delves right into the nitties and gritties of the Indonesian import whose stardom in the care of filmmaker Gareth Huw Evans broke ground from 2009 to date. With Mile 22 serving as the start of a potential franchise, I’m seriously hoping this film gets it […]

MILE 22 Gets Sh!t Done With A Final Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Need a little something to tie you down until the release of Timo Tjahjanto’s The Night Comes For Us?… Good, so do I. Per my own fandom toward martial arts star Iko Uwais, I’m looking forward to the release of Peter Berg’s new action thriller, Mile 22. Mark Wahlberg leads the cast and that he’s there to put a face to a potential franchise launcher is nice and all, but if I’m being frank, just give me more Iko and I’ll be on my way. And possibly some more Ronda too? That’d be nice! In a visceral modern thriller from the director of Lone Survivor, Mark Wahlberg stars as James Silva, an operative of the CIA’s most highly-prized and least-understood unit. Aided by a top-secret tactical command team, Silva must retrieve and transport an asset who holds life-threatening information to Mile 22 for extraction before the enemy closes in.

IMG_20180628_115901

MILE 22: Catch The New Red-Band Trailer Now!

Lee B. Golden III

STXfilms is only a month and a half away from the hopeful launch of a new action franchise of their own in Peter Berg’s latest, Mile 22. The first trailer released back in May and I kind of feel that it fell short of how resonant it might have felt had it not been toned to feel “cool” rather than foreboding and reverent in promoting an action film. If that’s the case then I don’t really know if the upcoming sequel that was announced on Wednesday – with Umair Aleem penning the script – will actually have any life. All else aside, we now have a new Red-Band trailer that puts a little more effort into its introduction to the masses this time around, and plentily with Iko Uwais getting some sick work done as our martial arts action centerpiece. In a visceral modern thriller from the director of Lone […]

IMG_20180626_085530

MILE 22 Sequel Officially En Route, Action Spec ‘Kate’ Scribe Penning

Lee B. Golden III

STX Entertainment is living onward with their commitment toward franchise potential for Peter Berg’s upcoming thriller, Mile 22. I’m itching for a new trailer myself but the release date is re-stamped for August 17 this time around and the word now is that a sequel is officially in the works, as confirmed exclusively by Mia Galuppo at The Hollywood Reporter. Mark Wahlberg, Iko Uwais, Ronda Rousey, Lauren Cohan and John Malkovich lead the principal cast for the inaugural action vehicle about a black-ops unit tasked with protecting an informant as they race against time to escort him twenty-two miles away to safety. The film was further announced back in April as part of a crossplatform initiative STX that includes a VR spin-off titled The Kiev Exchange for STXsurreal, which Aleem also wrote. Plot, as well as cast and crew details on the Mile 22 sequel remain pending while one of […]

FB_IMG_1527955262217

MOVING WITH DISTINCTION: A Word With Stuntman And Actor Felix Betancourt

Lee B. Golden III

This particular interview was quite the long time in the making as I had been following Distinctive Light Entertainment for several years now. Its in-house creatives, Felix Betancourt (the gentleman you see getting slammed in the reel above by The Rock himself at :25 and :40) and Yadi Nieves have both become two of the industry’s most fitting and talent stunt professionals and highly recognized at select festivals and online audiences for their efforts. Felix, who began as a breakdancer – inspired by his father, no less – and went competitive for a time, was actually the first I discovered several years ago while I’d spent a good portion of my time looking up hit list content. “I was always active in sports since very young, and in high school I decided to try out wrestling.” he said. “I molded quickly because of my breakdancing skills to the point of […]

IMG_20180424_143621

MILE 22: Forget Diplomacy. Forget Military. Meet Overwatch In The First Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

UFC champ-turned-actress and WWE star Ronda Rousey may have had a hell of an uphill climb in the last several years, but she’s proven her resilience along with her filmic potential since breaking out in 2014’s The Expendables 3. Her fruition also comes in parallel to the international success seen by actor and martial artist Iko Uwais (Beyond Skyline) since emerging in under the auspices of Gareth Huw Evans nearly a decade ago and flourishing toward a bigger career to date. For this and apart from being a fan of the genre their talents are relatively attributed to, I couldn’t be more proud, nor excited for the upcoming theatrical release of STXfilms’ new franchise hopeful, Mile 22. Both aforementioned cast members join the committed actor/director partnership that is actor Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg who are now five years-strong in their four-for-four collaboration that also bears the potential for a […]

IMG_20180424_145729

MILE 22 Teases Mark Wahlberg As The Final Option On The First Official Poster

Lee B. Golden III

I’ve been waiting with baited breath for something to surface for Mile 22 and we finally have our first glimpse of the action with an official poster. Fandango bared the key art via social media hailing the return of Mark Wahlberg to the big screen on August 3 with a cast that includes Ronda Rousey and international action star Iko Uwais. The film was written by Graham Roland and Lea Carpenter and tells the story of an elite American intelligence officer who, when aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer with sensitive information out of a foreign country. Also starring are John Malkovich and Lauren Cohan, and all the hard-hitting action and thrills one might hope for between now and its forthcoming VR tie-in, The Kiev Exchange, arriving on STXsurreal later this year. Check out the ink below and stay tuned for a […]

636589500086367740-M22-SG-FromDirectorR2

MILE 22 Takes Aim With A New Still From The Movie, As Well As A New Release Date

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Mark Wahlberg’s previously announced stake in producer Sue Kroll’s Six Billion Dollar Man remains pending. Until then, moviegoers can expect the star to appear in his latest pairing with Peter Berg, Mile 22, and a brand new still from the film has arrived for the STXfilms release which you can view below. The exclusive from USA Today also notes a new release date set for August 3, signaling a rollback from the initial announcement in February for a July 20 upon officially wrapping in Bogota, Colombia. Walhberg leads Mile 22 along with international action star Iko Uwais and UFC-turned-WWE starlet Ronda Rousey for a story centered on an elite American intelligence officer on a mission to smuggle a cop with sensitive information out of a foreign country. The film also stars John Malkovich and Lauren Cohan. Berg, who produces, is also spearheading efforts toward a film franchise, as well […]

STXsurreal_Logo

STX Entertainment Readies VR Agenda With MILE 22 Spin-Off, Dave Bautista, ‘John Wick’ Writer And More

Lee B. Golden III

STX Entertainment has been stirring quite a bit behind the scenes in the last few years. As such, we can now list some of those prospects courtesy of a new press announcement detailing several new short form series projects for the company’s VR and immersive content channel, STXSurreal which will premiere later this year via apps or VR headsets. The two of five projects listed include live-action comedy programs featuring Ed Helms, and comedy duo Jason Mewes and Kevin Smth, a.k.a. Jay and Silent Bob. The other three pertain to a different nature more to our liking if you’re a reader of this site and are fully aware of previous reports on Dave Bautista’s STX-related endeavors last October, as well as that of John Wick trilogy scribe Derek Kolstad earlier this year, and the franchise-to-be following the July 20 release of Peter Berg’s Wahlberg/Uwais/Rousey headliner, Mile 22. UNTITLED DAVE BAUTISTA […]

IMG_20180213_195307

STXFilms Dates MILE 22 For A Summer 2018 Release

Lee B. Golden III

Ronda Rousey’s career with the WWE remains pending following recent headlines. In the meantime, she’s got goals set in cinema and with none other than director Peter Berg and a rousing list of heavy hitters for potential franchise vehicle, Mile 22. ComingSoon.net reports that production on the new action thriller which also headlines Mark Wahlberg and international superstar Iko Uwais, has wrapped principal photography following shoots in Atlanta, GA and Bogota, Colombia. A newly announced theatrical rollout has been set for July 20, 2018 from STXfilms while the studio further preps for a multiplatform STX release via STXtv and STXsurreal VR, as well as a sequel. Mile 22 marks the fourth collaboration between Berg and Wahlberg after Patriots Day, Deepwater Horizon and Lone Survivor. Written by Graham Roland and Lea Carpenter, the film centers on an elite American intelligence officer who, when aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries […]

1798px-Lauren_Cohan_by_Gage_Skidmore_3

AFM 2017: ‘The Walking Dead’ Actress Lauren Cohan Joins MILE 22

Lee B. Golden III

Indeed, STXfilms is moving forward with the new action thriller, Mile 22, and with its initial cast of Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, Ronda Rousey and Indonesian import Iko Uwais. The film has been on the move for a year and change now with Peter Berg directing from a script by Graham Roland and Lea Carpenter and while movement has been albeit slow, it looks as if the goalpost nears later this month for start of production. This little tidbit also brings news by way of Variety with the addition of actress Lauren Cohan, best known for the role of Maggie on the hit AMC series, The Walking Dead, which is well into the release of its eighth season. Character details are pending whilst the premise remains with a story telling of an elite American intelligence officer who, aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer […]

Peter-Berg-Deepwater-Horizon

Mark Wahlberg And Peter Berg Stretch MILE 22 Into Franchise Territory At CinemaCon

Lee B. Golden III

Development of STX Entertainment’s long-awaited Asian action thriller, Mile 22, has been on hold for sometime now. Call it a really slow brew – nearly two years, in fact. Thankfully though, the film is in play at the studio where the film has taken shape to some degree with a few changes since then. Graham Roland’s script currently has Deepwater Horizon star/director pair Mark Wahlberg and producer Peter Berg attached with the actor cast for the role of Silva – last described as a “complex” character, “a salty intelligence hack who has shoveled shit on four continents”. His newest shot at redemption now sees him battling through corrupt cops, criminal overlords and heavily-armed locals in order to escort a compromised informant to an airport 22 miles away. As of this week, Deadline and Variety have it on good terms from events at CinemaCon that they’re looking toward the film as a […]

PicsArt_01-13-06.39.43

MILE 22 Brings New Character Details, Script Changes For Rousey, Wahlberg

Lee B. Golden III

In a story published at The New Yorker, writer Tad Friend centers his latest piece on the dealings that encircle the business model of STX Entertainment and its chairman Adam Fogelson. One such segment places a little bit more light on the development on the latest international action thriller, Mile 22, which was announced last March. Then-UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Indonesian action star Iko Uwais were the first two to be cast with The Rundown and Battleship helmer Peter Berg intially producing for STX. The story, from a script by Graham Rowland, centers on a CIA agent stationed in Indonesia, tasked with transporting an informant from the center of the city with the help of a local cop, to an awaiting getaway plane 22 miles away with a gauntlet of corrupt cops and heavily armed locals aimed at taking them out before they escape. By July 2015, Mark Wahlberg […]

Wahlberg Joins Talks For MILE 22 With Berg, Rousey And Uwais

Lee B. Golden III

The internet broke back in March when it was announced that Peter Berg would produce forthcoming action thriller, Mile 22 with The Raid star Iko Uwais and The Expendables 3 co-star Ronda Rousey attached. The prospects of this happening bode excellently for fans of both action actors with Uwais still brimming with popularity as the third film in the Raid franchise awaits its 2017/2018 arrival and Rousey maintaining her professional fighting career as well as acting. That said, casting is still underway through press announcements and this week’s latest trade reports include actor and Ted 2 star Mark Wahlberg who is in talks with fellow Lone Survivor cohort Berg and newly established STX Entertainment to star in the film as well as produce with producer Stephen Levinson. The film’s script by executive producer Graham Roland will center on a CIA agent stationed in Indonesia tasked with transporting an informant from […]

Iko Uwais, Ronda Rousey To Star In MILE 22, Peter Berg To Produce

Lee B. Golden III

Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated that Berg would direct. This is a treat that may have been in the making what with the hype that came from a recent instagram post between undefeated UFC champion Ronda Rousey, Indonesian action star and choreographer Iko Uwais and The Rundown, Battleship and Lone Survivor helmer, director Peter Berg. Plus, it’s still not clear as to exactly what order things may exactly be happening, although it certainly does help to have an idea about what lies ahead for all three. According to Variety, the three are tapped to work on the new action thriller, Mile 22 with Rousey and Uwais starring in the story that pits a CIA field operative and an Indonesian cop together on an extemely dangerous and violent mission to confront a politically courrupt foe. Both Rousey and Uwais are coming off quite a few noteworthy accomplishments […]