HUNTRESS’ PREY: A Word With ‘Prey Of Wrath’ Star Tatiana Neva
I’ve only just recently dabbled with NBCUniversal’s Xumo Play app and it’s a nice and ample platform for free ad-supported movie streaming. Cataloged accordingly is action adventure thriller Prey Of Wrath from directors Benny Tjandra and Doug Tochioka, and starring Tatiana Neva who also co-wrote and exec produced the pic.
Neva and her team are pounding the pavement this month to push the film to action fans, therein including some Q&A chatter which you can read below. This is also our first coordinated interaction with Neva since she first came on my own radar many years ago as the Wonder Woman of choice for Bat In The Sun’s “Super Power Beatdown” series many years ago, preambling quite the journey leading up to sharing an indie feature with martial arts superstar Cynthia Rothrock.
Both actresses now lead the way in Prey Of Wrath for the story of Lyudmilla (Neva), a GRU agent who reluctantly teams up with a CIA operative (Rothrock) on a mission to save the world – a quest that will ultimately bring her face to face with the man who turned her into the killer she’s become. The film also stars Gray Michael Sallies, Leonard Zhang and Darren Holmquist.
Check out Neva’s interview below and be sure to follow her on Instagram, and don’t forget to read my review.
What were some of your favorite action genre titles growing up?
I grew up loving classic action films from the ’90s — movies with memorable characters, practical action, strong emotional stakes, and real intensity. I absolutely love Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies! I was especially drawn to stories with iconic warrior-type characters and emotionally driven heroes. Characters like Xena, Sarah Connor, Trinity, Leeloo, and Black Widow influenced me, along with many classic action stars from that era. I have also had passion for the films like Jet Li’s “Hero”, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “House of Flying Daggers”. Those films made action feel larger than life while remaining emotionally grounded, and that’s what we aimed to capture with “Prey of Wrath”.
What drew you to starring in Prey Of Wrath in addition to co-writing and exec producing?
I was very excited for this project from the very beginning, and as it evolved, I became personally invested in helping to shape the world and exploring my character’s story. Co-writing and executive producing naturally followed. Writer-director Doug Tochioka initially brought me in as the lead actress, but along the way graciously allowed me to contribute creatively beyond my acting performance and contribute to building something that truly reflected our vision for the genre. It was a huge responsibility, but also incredibly rewarding because this project came from a genuinely authentic creative place.
Talk about some of the influences that drove Prey Of Wrath in its appeal to fans of old school 80s and 90s action.
That was very intentional from the beginning. We really wanted to capture the spirit of the original action films that paved the way for today’s genre – those gritty, emotionally driven movies from the ’80s and ’90s that balanced intensity, character, and practical action in such an iconic way. Films from that period had a sincerity and toughness that feels timeless. We weren’t trying to recreate it superficially — we wanted to honor the feeling those movies gave audiences. At the same time, we wanted to bring a modern psychological perspective to the character work, especially through Lyudmila’s emotional journey.
Imaginably you have Cynthia Rothrock, another icon from the same era in the mix. What was that like sharing the set with her?
Working with Cynthia was surreal in the best possible way because she’s such a legend in the martial arts and action world. I have immense respect for performers like her, so sharing scenes felt very special. Beyond her incredible skill and screen presence, she was also supportive and warm on set. There’s a discipline and professionalism she brings that elevates any project she’s in. Audiences are going to love seeing her in this role because she brings legacy, authenticity, and strength to the film.
Talk about what it took to prepare you for your role in terms of various training and martial arts styles for your character.
For this role, the training focused on blending multiple styles in a way that felt practical and believable for the character, with some stylistically flashy elements like advanced kicks and techniques I learned specifically for the project — for instance, the split kicks. And I had never done Capoeira, Judo, or Systema before. I spent months with the stunt team on polishing and advancing my skills in fight choreography, weapons handling, conditioning, and movement training. A huge part of the process was repetition — drilling sequences until they became instinctive.
The goal was always to make the action feel grounded, brutal, and emotionally connected to the character. My original martial arts foundation includes primarily Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, as well as some boxing, tai chi, a little Krav Maga, Muay Thai, and film/stunt training. I’ve also studied various blunt/melee weapons and firearms. A bit of everything. As an actor you never know what you’re going to have to do in your next project, so it’s good to know colored wide variety of skills. “Prey of Wrath” allowed us to expand that foundation even further.
Tell us about the challenges you faced while making this project.
The biggest challenge was the physical and emotional endurance the project demanded. We were filming intense action sequences in difficult conditions while carrying very heavy emotional material throughout the story. Plus I got injured a couple of times which added some additional challenges, on top of the drastic weather conditions we got to work with, like winter cold as well as heat waves. Because I’m in so much of the film, there was little downtime physically or emotionally. But honestly, that challenge also became one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience. Everyone on the production pushed themselves incredibly hard, and there was a real sense of commitment from the whole team. I’m truly grateful to everyone who worked to bring this project to life!
Are there any particular fun memories you share from the set?
Honestly, filming the action scenes was incredibly fun despite of any challenges. There’s something very satisfying about seeing all the training and rehearsing come together on camera. I also loved collaborating on set — working with the cast, stunt team, and crew during the larger sequences was amazing. Even on the toughest days, there was passion and excitement behind what we were creating together. And of course, working with Cynthia Rothrock was a major highlight.
Can we expect a sequel?
We built the world to leave room for more story, and there’s been a lot of excitement and discussion about that possibility, since the film has been very well received since its release by the audiences, making it into the Most Popular section on NBCUniversal’s ’s Xumo Play and holding that position for weeks. It has also received some great reviews from the industry professionals whose opinions we highly value (Thank you so much!). There’s still a lot to explore with Ludmila as a character, especially after everything she goes through in “Prey of Wrath”. While I can’t officially confirm anything yet, we would absolutely love the opportunity to continue her story.
Prey Of Wrath is now available in North America. Apart from sequel aspirations, what do you hope to achieve the most with this action thriller?
I hope the film connects with both longtime fans of classic action cinema and newer audiences seeking character-driven action stories. If you love intense practical action, strong emotional stakes, complex antiheroes, and that classic OG action spirit, there’s something here for you. More than anything, I hope audiences have a great time and connect emotionally with Lyudmila’s journey.
What’s next for Tatiana Neva going forward?
Right now, I’m focused on growing creatively and exploring projects that challenge me in new ways. I definitely want to continue in action because I love the genre, but I’m also drawn to roles that explore deeper psychological and emotional territory.
I’m very excited about my upcoming project with international action star and three-time Mr. Universe Alexander Nevsky, who was an executive producer on “Prey of Wrath”. We previously worked together on “The Wide West” (2025). This new project is in pre-production and heading into production soon — so stay tuned, more awesomeness is coming!
Lastly I would like to say huge Thank you to all of the amazing people who made this project possible: Doug Tochioka, producer Benny Tjandra, ITN Studios president Stuart Olson, NBCUniversal’s Xumo Play team, Cynthia Rothrock, Alexander Nevsky, Talon Tears and our wonderful cast, crew and stunt team! We all worked very hard on this project together and I am so grateful to each and every one of them for this amazing experience, the dedication and support, which resulted in something special!
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
