pound of flesh
Van Damme Kicks Into Action For Barbarash's Newly-Wrapped POUND OF FLESH
Believe it or not, this is all we are going to get to see until a proper trailer airs for the forthcoming release of director Ernie Barbarash‘s newest Canadian indie action thriller, Pound Of Flesh. Filmed on-location in Guangdong, China from a script by Joshua James, the film marks Van Damme‘s third outing with Barbarash since 6 Bullets and the Scott Adkins co-starrer, Assassination Games. The film was announced back in January with Van Damme set to portray an ex-military man on a mission to find the people who left him for dead in a bathub full of ice and stole his kidney-originally intended for the dying daughter of his estranged brother.
Principal photography has already wrapped after a three month shoot that began in March, joining Van Damme with action cinema superstar Darren Shahlavi, as well as John Ralston, Marsha Yuen, Jason Tobin, Andrew Ng and veteran actor Aki Aleong, who previously shared the screen in Van Damme‘s 1994 tournament adventure, The Quest. The film also features fight choreography by Hong Kong action veteran and regular Donnie Yen collaborator John Salvitti, and vehicular action by acclaimed stunt coordinator, Bruce Law.
Ace Studios’ Henry Luk produced the film with Kirk Shaw for Vancouver-based Odyssey Media who will also distribute the film, in addition to LA-based Automatic Films and China’s Chunqiu Time Culture Co.
Salvitti‘s work can be next seen in the upcoming release of Yen’s new film, Kung Fu Jungle/Kung Fu Killer/Last Of The Best (title pending I guess). Meanwhile, Van Damme will also appear in the forthcoming home release of director Keith Parmer’s new crime thriller, Swelter this summer.
Barbarash‘s latest martial arts headliner with Michael Jai White, Falcon Rising (formerly known as Favela) is expected to arrive this Fall.
H/T: Screendaily
Blurbs From China: Bruce Le’s Possible Return To Action And Talk Of Hard Target 2
From L to R: Mike Leeder, Wong King-lung, Darren Shahlavi and Mike Moller on the set of Pound Of Flesh
During the course of filming in China for director Ernie Barbarash‘s new Jean Claude Van Damme actioner, Pound Of Flesh, a few updates have dropped during the production process that may leave a few old school kung fu cinema fans and Van Damme fans alike, pretty excited.
While the production itself has already unveiled its fair share of set pics so far during filming, and as it stands, at least one news gem dates back to sometime when a group photo started going viral online. Notably, that photo included actor-turned-director Wong King-lung who worked as a contract player for Shaw Brothers before taking on nom de plume, “Bruce Le”, following Bruce Lee’s passing away in July of 1973.
As it turns out, according to an article written recently by Far East Editor, Asian cinema syndicate and Pound Of Flesh co-star Mike Leeder, Wong is planning a return to the martial arts action genre, which will be further discussed in a forthcoming interview.
As for the second update, Leeder also mentions that there are possible talks for a sequel to accliamed filmmaker John Woo’s 1993 hunter thriller, Hard Target, which could leave room for Van Damme to return to familiar territory as Cajun American daylaborer and skilled survivalist, Chance Boudreaux.
The actor has seen quite a return to form in the last several years, appearing in cult faves like French-language self-titled drama, JCVD, the non-mainstream third and fourth installment of the Universal Soldier franchise, the summer 2012 Hollywood blockbuster, The Expendables 2 and returning to the set once more with Timecop helmer Peter Hyams for Enemies Closer. And with several of his classic hits well on their way to remakes of their own, it would certainly serve the fans nicely to see Van Damme back in action with a sequel. And who knows? Maybe Wong might have place for him.
Then again, Leeder would know better; While little more may be known about these updates until the right time, they are both definitive and noteworthy mentions to hold onto with Leeder being one of the most respected and well-knowing insiders in film journalism for numerous years as reporter, producer and actor. His most recent performances will be seen in the upcoming releases of Helios from directors Sunny Luk and Longman Leung, and director Roy Chow’s Wong Fei Hung reboot, Rise Of A Legend.
As for Pound Of Flesh, fans can expect this one to arrive in 2015. Meanwhile, Van Damme’s next release will arrive on August 12 for director Keith Parmer’s crime thriller, Swelter, courtesy of Well Go USA.