Action Crime Noir SHADOW TRANSIT Looms Behind The Scenes In New Set Stills
Yoshi Sudarso, Qymira, and KC Montero star.
pedring lopez
Updates: New Images For Lopez’s SELLBLOCK Revealed, Attaches Yayan Ruhian To Actioner JI
Filmmaker Pedring Lopez is getting a double dose of updates from a few projects. First up is a batch of stills from Sellblock, a new crime drama series which Lopez also produced via BlackOps Studios Asia, and Psyops8. Jericho Rosales (Basurero, Siargao, Pacquiao: The Movie) stars in the series which chronicles the activities of one of Asia’s biggest drug empires operating from inside a Philippines maximum-security prison. The cast also includes Empoy Marquez, Ronnie Lazaro, Mon Confiado, Maria Isabel Lopez, Ria Atayde, and Jaclyn Jose. Deadline covered the show when international sales agent Blue Fox took the show to MIPTV back in April: “Sellblock is more than just a series,” said Rosales. “It’s an immersive experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Working alongside such a talented team has been an absolute privilege, and I can’t wait for viewers to see the magic we’ve created.” Lopez […]
BLOOD PASSAGE: ‘Maria’ Helmer Boards Martial Arts Vamp Thriller
Maria and Nilalang helmer Pedring Lopez is lining up to direct Blood Passage. The film marks the first project out of a deal announced late last year between Singapore-based Very Tay Media and Lopez’s BlackOps Studios Asia in the Philippines. Variety’s Patrick Frater reports: “Blood Passage” is a martial arts vampire action horror feature set in Southeast Asia. Its story follows a rescue mission gone wrong, that pits a private military unit against relentless supernatural forces. Rex Lopez is producing for Blackops Studios Asia & Psyops8 as is Alaric Tay for Very Tay Media. Fred Hedman of Evolution Pictures and GFM Film Sales, and Christopher Shaw are exec producing. On the action front, stunt-multi-hyphenate Sonny Sisson, who provided stunts on Lopez’s recently-completed crime series, “Sellblock,” will return in a similar role. He will be joined by action choreographer Brahim Chab, whose credits partly include Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear, The […]
‘John Wick 3’ Actors Yayan Ruhian And Cecep Rahman Pair Up With ‘Maria’ Director For Mystery Project
The next and virtual EFM is set to launch on March 1, wherein you can expect tons of news on film development and acquisitions to arise. Nilalang and Maria director Pedring Lopez will especially be on hand for his own projects, including one that will finally see Indonesian action stalwarts Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian of The Raid franchise and John Wick 3 fame, together on set once more. Lopez took to social media on Wednesday to celebrate, although official title and any and all details about the project are currently under wraps until the announcements are made via EFM and trade news reports. “I’ve been working on this project in secret for a while, even during the pandemic.” Lopez tells Film Combat Syndicate. “You know what it is with Cecep and Yayan [laughs], but what they’re planning is brutal and bloody!” Rahman and Ruhian (also in tow for […]
Berlin: Sam Worthington Lands ALPHAS, Pedring Lopez’s COUNTERPLAY
Sam Worthington is on a roll in Berlin. The actor, who stars in the forthcoming second and third Avatar films between now and 2022, is currently circling two projects in Berlin: Sentient Pictures International/Voltage/UTA’s Alphas, and Blue Fox’s Counterplay (formerly titled Escape). Alphas centers on an Gavin McDade (Worthington), an environmentalist who, in the wake of an out-of-control spike in the Great White Shark population, must come to terms with a disgraced former Orca trainer, ensuing an epic maritime battle between two distinctively powerful underwater apex predators. Production begins in Puerto Rico this summer with Steven Quale (Into the Storm, Aliens of the Deep, 2nd unit director on Avatar and Titanic) directing from a screenplay by Frank Hannah (The Cooler) – Original story is by Hannah and Christopher Tuffin. Pierre Morel (Taken, Peppermint) is producing next to Steve Richards whose Endurance Media is partly financing the pic. Renee Tab and […]
JOAQUIN BORDADO: ‘Maria’ Director Inks New Superhero Adaptation At Viva For Live-Action Comic Franchise Launch
Nilalang and Maria helmer Pedring Lopez will direct a feature-length revival Filipino comic book property, Joaquin Bordado. The film will be the first in a slate of multi-IP titles now added to the wheelhouse for Viva Films for which Lopez now coins as the #CaparasUniverse – a nod to comic book creator/author Carlos J. Caparas. The serial comic book franchise took off in the 1970s and onward, telling of a covert assassin-turned-ex-con whose new lease on life finds him imbued with powers through a transfer of mystical tattoos. Armed with newly-amped fighting prowess, he sets out on a quest for vengeance against his former boss. A live-action feature firstly took off in 1988 prior to a successful GMA Network series run in 2008 starring Robin Padilla. Lopez, who had been in development with the project for close to a year until this week, took to social media to give thanks […]
ESCAPE: ‘Maria’ Director Plots U.S. Debut With Black Ops Rescue Thriller From Blue Fox
Nilalang director Pedring Lopez made a killing earlier this year with the local and subsequent global release of his Spring female-fronted thriller, Maria. That film is now slated for a sequel that is expected to roll cameras early next year, while the noted horror and action director has since planted one other seed in Blue Fox Entertainment title, Escape. Penned by Lopez and screenwriter Scott Rosenfelt (The Jade Pendant) from a story by Michael A. McDermott, Escape centers on John Craig, a former black ops soldier with a penchant for going beyond the law. When the mother of a young teenage son falsely imprisoned in Manila summons him to the job of extracting him, Craig and his team plan the ultimate escape – one from both the rising tensions in Manila, and the demons of John’s past. Lopez, who signaled fans on Instagram on Thursday, teased the project in a […]
MARIA 2: Yayan Ruhian And Cecep Arif Rahman Circling Cristine Reyes Action Sequel [EXCLUSIVE]
Director Pedring Lopez is setting up to return to the helm for Maria 2 with a spritely roster of Indonesian talent with Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman. The sequel brings lead actress Christine Reyes and director Pedring Lopez back into the fold once more for a late 2019 production start. Reyes penned a new chapter in her sixteen-year screen career with Maria from Viva Films, making her action-packed genre debut for local moviegoers back in March. The inaugural female-fronted thriller was written by Yz Carbonell and Rex Lopez, and stars Reyes as a former Black Rose cartel hitwoman forced back into the underworld to avenge her family with the help of her mentor, Sir Greg, played by Ronnie Lazaro. Character and plot details are otherwise pending for the sequel which currently stands midway of what Lopez cited, in a February interview with The Fanboy SEO, as a trilogy for […]
Review: Revenge Thriller MARIA Pulsates With The Emergence Of A New Action Heroine
You can certainly bet from a local perspective that a film like Pedring Lopez’s new thriller, Maria, has been a rarity in the Philippines for years. There’s been actioners, but not as much and certainly not to the same measure and scope as other productions, and gladly, there’s been a pretty visible sea change in recent years in that regard. For this, a film like Maria is a reasurring sign of better times ahead with much deserving ceremony. Maria begins with our titular lady assassin, donned in black and descending unto a quiet home as she lays waste to the perimeter of armed guards at every turn. Her name is Lily (Cristine Reyes), and she’s the killer of killers, a prime leading member of the Black Rose – enforcers of the De La Vega crime cartel. Her story fast-forwards seven years later when she’s far and apart from heyday as […]
MARIA: Netflix Snags Cristine Reyes Action Thriller For May 17 Release
Try looking for writer/directing Pedring Lopez’s 2016 action horror, Nilalang, anywhere stateside and if you’re lucky, you’ll find it under some innocuous, generic title thanks to whatever schmuck snagged it for a legit U.S. release. It’s what’s always irked me – the dismissive, flippant way distributors handle Asian titles. That habit seems to haven’t dissipated, and thankfully, Netflix took notice in the wake of Lopez’s most recent feature outing, Maria, which hit theaters late last month to promising audience and critical responses. Set to stream worldwide on May 17, actress Cristine Reyes stars as the former member of a criminal cartel forced out of hiding to dispense vengeance when her new lease on life is violently interrupted by the very crime family that nearly had her executed. The project marks Reyes’ first action role from a script by Lopez and co-writer Yz Carbonel, and with Sonny Sison (Nilalang, BuyBust), overseeing […]
RIDING THE WAVE: An Interview With “MARIA” Star, Actress Cristine Reyes
When talking Philippine cinema in 2019 for action fans, engaging the dialogue may almost always certainly include the successes of one of its most celebrated auteurs, Erik Matti, whose award-winning ripped-from-the-headlines crime thriller, BuyBust, scored hugely among festival crowds last year. Going forward, the concurrent efforts of other directors may certainly be noted – folks like Pedring Lopez whose 2015 accolades earned in Manila with action horror, Nilalang, especially earned him a place on our radar and the world markets. Two horror features later, he’s back and following suit with his own female fronted actioner, Maria, starring Cristine Reyes in her first-ever action role. The official trailer has already garnered well over three million views and shares on social media much to Pedring’s credit, and certainly to that of Ms. Reyes who I managed to garner some answers in our first interview. In my view, this is pretty huge for […]
Meet MARIA In The Official Red-Band Trailer For Pedring Lopez’s New Revenge Thriller!
Earlier this month saw Viva Films offering a small dose of the action to come in director Pedring Lopez’s new film, Maria. Now slated for a March 27 release, Cristine Reyes fronts her first action role in what looks to be nothing short of a thrilling contender for this year’s rousing feats since Erik Matti’s BuyBust put the Philippines on the map just a little more for genre fans. Cristine Reyes stars as Lily, a former cartel assassin who begins her new life as Maria—a new life suddenly cut short when the cartel learns of her whereabouts. Soon, the hunter becomes the hunted and a new fight wages on with revenge as the ultimate prize. Lopez, who co-penned the new action thriller, also reunites with Sonny Sison (Nilalang, BuyBust) who services the explosive action and fight scene goodies to fawn over, and there’s plenty of it to sample in the […]
Teaser: Who Is MARIA?
It’s high time as Pedring Lopez’s latest action thriller, Maria commences rousing the fandom for its release. Leading the girls-with-guns charge is actress Cristine Reyes in the title role to start off the next wave of female-centric thrills following Anne Curtis’ own success in last year’s BuyBust from director Erik Matti. Penned by Lopez among several other writers, Maria is the new identity our heroine takes on after being left for dead for betraying her former criminal organization. Soon enough as time passes, her second chance at a life away from violence is cut short when her violent past makes a resurgence, forcing her to pick up old habits and end things once and for all. Lopez also brings Sonny Sison back to the action fray to designate the top-to-bottom brutality as he did on Lopez’s Nilalang and Matti’s BuyBust. Rounding out the cast are Ivan Germaine Padilla and actress […]
MARIA: Production Is Underway For Pedring Lopez’s Assassin Thriller
The recent surge of excitement from Erik Matti’s new crime thriller, BuyBust, has done well in gracing the action genre a much needed spotlight in the Philippines. It’s an effort continued with the ongoing work of filmmaker Pedring Lopez who took hold of the festival scene a few years ago for cult action horror, Nilalang, with Cesar Montano, Meg Imperial and Maria Ozawa starring and now he’s back at it with the current production of assassin revenge thriller, Maria, featuring actress Christine Reyes in the title role. When former cartel assassin, LILY, deliberately betrays her organization, she is brutally executed and left for dead. Unbeknownst to her former crime family, she has faked her own death and begun her new life life in seclusion as MARIA – a life suddenly cut short when the cartel learns of her whereabouts. Soon, the hunter becomes the hunted and a new fight wages […]
Philippine-Based BlackOps Studios Asia Announces Rights Acquisition Of Two Distinguished Action Horror Titles
EXCLUSIVE: Makati-based BlackOps Studios Asia officially acquired the development and worldwide rights this Sunday to two short films that have made waves in the last two years. Writer and director Epoy Deyto’s QCinema short film finalist, Pixel Paranoia is first on the roster which BlackOps will grow as a feature-length action horror hybrid. Actors Niko Lorenzo Tabid, Angela Munsayac and Jaruis Oloquina starred in the short which focused on a politically-charged look into the back alleys of the Dark Web market and mass surveillance. It’s critical reception last year lended recognition with Armando Dela Cruz describing it as “tremendous fun”, wherein “anything goes, be it a deliciously grindhouse-slash-b-horror-esque surgery snuff or a drone-like black-and-white footage that—creepily—seems to have found a life of its own”, while John Tawasil tells of its “…certain texture”, “especially in the last few sequences where things get really crazy”. BlackOps Studio Asia had a hand in producing […]
Mark Dacascos Tapped To Star In Pedring Lopez Actioner, BREACH; Dan Southworth In Talks To Join
Look forward to some extra updates in the coming months going into 2017 for director Pedring Lopez’s latest action horror hit, Nilalang, now making the festival rounds for its year-end movement. In the meantime, Lopez and the film’s stunt director, Sonny Sison have been working under the table for a project of their own now set to begin shooting next Spring. For this, we turn to the new film, Breach, which has action star Mark Dacascos attached and actor and martial artist Dan Southworth in talks to star while plot details remain pending, according to City On Fire. Both have a notable history the martial arts genre leading up to their 2013 stint together in Kevin Tancharoen’s Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2, while Dacascos has since taken to a more active role behind the camera as of late with his directorial debut, Showdown In Manila starring Alexander Nevsky. The film […]
Watch The New International Trailer For Pedring Lopez’s Award-Winning Action Horror, NILALANG (THE ENTITY)
The Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival is where to be this Friday night if you wish to catch a screening of director Pedring Lopez’s new movie, Nilalang (The Entity). The screening will be held at 7:30pm PST while Lopez continues to plot the festival course thereafter along with furthering prospects of a North American release after winning several awards at the 41st Manila International Film Festival late last year. SYNOPSIS: NBI special crimes division agent Tony (Cesar Montano) encounters an evil entity which is bent on killing and torturing beautiful women, one of which was his girlfriend, years after he have thought to have killed the malevolent spirit. People close to Tony is in danger including his partner Jane (Meg Imperial), who has romantic interest towards him with everyone in the agency aware of this fact except for Tony. The spirit, who has killed many people in Japan, is […]
Review: Ozawa Brings Notoriety To Lopez’s Substance In NILALANG (2015)
In covering a lot of action movies or film in general, you don’t always hear of instances of porn actors and making transitions to more serious careers in acting. When you do, though, it does present an interesting sense of appeal, and for me, considering some of the surprises I’ve seen in the action genre, I’m certainly no one pigeonhole anybody into a category, and I think many would concur with me. That said, in the case of director Pedring Lopez’s new action horror, Nilalang, I think at least one of the biggest factors in this film’s press coverage was the casting of former adult entertainer Maria Ozawa – one of actually two former adult entertainers on my radar making their leap forward to more solid film roles. It’s a noteworthy effort to make, and especially here for Ozawa who co-stars with a lead cast led by actor Cesar Montano, […]
Over 100 Set Photos And 20 Minutes Of Behind-The-Scenes Footage From Pedring Lopez's New Action Horror, NILALANG
Director Pedring Lopez‘s latest action horror thriller, Nilalang, remains on deck for a similataneous local release on December 25 coinciding with this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival installation. In the meantime, the promotional campaign continues for what looks to be deemed as a reinforcing milestone for former adult entertainer Maria Ozawa who is journeying toward a more career centric on serious roles. How serious? Well, here she plays a Yakuza princess in Manila who unwittingly becomes entangled in an intense investigation of gory and supernatural serial killings alongside local film star, actor Cesar Montano in the role of the detective hot on the trail. How intense? Well, as about intense as it is serious, like “NSFW bondage and face ripping” serious. As in “Ozawa blazing up a bar and charging at a samurai with a sword” serious, thus making her action debut in spectacular fashion. The most recent trailers are […]
Get Ready For A Facelift In The New Action-Packed NSFW Trailer For NILALANG!
Have no illusions about actress and former adult entertainer Maria Ozawa. She’s come quite far from her former trade and since adding action movies to her craft, she now has a starring role as a Yakuza princess along side actor Cesar Montano that commands definitively more for her screentime. For this, we now get a look at the new action horror thriller, Nilalang from director Pedring Lopez and now well into post-production ahead of it’s screening at the Metro Manila Film Festival upon its December release. The first trailer has arrived with all the trimmings of a movie that dares to push its fair share of envelopes… or charge at them with a sword, whichever works best. SYNOPSIS: The story tells of Tony – an NBI agent hot on the trail of a series of rapes and killings that counts, among them, Tony’s girlfriend, Tin. With his co-agent, Jane, they […]
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