While we await the verdict for Michael Jai White starrers Black Dynamite 2 and next year’s Welcome to Sudden Death, cameras began rolling as of Tuesday for The Outlaw Johnny Black. Jaigantic Studios made the announcement on Tuesday signaling the feature film thriller marking a debut milestone for White’s independent label, Jaigantic Studios.
White stars in the title role in a spiritual follow-up from his 2009 blaxploitation 70s kung fu action opus, Black Dynamite, and aims to deliver “a rip-roaring, high energy, action-packed western adventure with Johnny Black blazing the saddle on his mission for revenge”. The actor and celebrated martial arts star takes on the titular Johnny Black, hell bent on avenging the death of his father at the hands of Brett Clayton as he becomes a wanted man in the aftermath. Posing as a preacher in a small mining town, it is where he’ll soon be tasked with saving it from the stranglehold of a notorious land baron.
Rounding out the cast are Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls, Assassination Nation), Erica Ash (Uncle Drew), Barry Bostwick (Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves, Spin City), and Glynn Turman (House Of Lies, American Gods). The Jaigantic Studios launchpad also stars a roster of Black Dynamite alumni and other notable acting talents, including, Byron Minns, Kevin Chapman, Tony Baker, Gary Anthony Williams, Paul Sloan (Vigilante Diaries), Buddy Lewis, Cowboy Cerrone, Chris Browning, Jalyn Hall, Tyler Bryan, Heath Freeman, Tom Voss, Kyle Ressarday, Sherwin Ray, Michael Bearden, Russell Peters, Robert Goldman, Kym Whitley, Tommy Davidson, Michael Madson, George Lopez (El Chicano) and Eme Ikuakor (Marvel’s The Inhumans). White’s The Hard Way co-star Randy Couture is reportedly recovering from a heart attack as of this week and is also expected to join the cast.
White penned the script with Minns who is also producing. The action star is also a shepherding production in mutual partnership with Urbanflix TV as of a few weeks ago.
White’s thirty year experience in the industry was the center of recognition whilst attending a Tyler Perry Studios Walk of Fame ceremony in his honor. More details and highlights from the production remain pending while fans can currently follow White on social media via Twitter here and here.