TMNT 2 Sequel, 'Half-Shell', Scores Stephen Amell For Casey Jones

Whether or not you're a fan of Paramount Pictures's and Platnum Dunes's latest iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the fact is that it's getting a sequel with the likely reprisal of actress Megan Fox in her role of April O'Neil among other new and returning faces. On that note, Variety went underway on Tuesday with a report announcing the addition of fellow Turtles' ally, New York City's masked vigilante Casey Jones for actor Stephen Amell, star of the DC Comics-based CW series, Arrow.

Earth To Echo helmer David Green is directing from a script by returning writer Josh Applebaum and Andrè Nemec with producers Michael Bay and Brad Fuller on hand. The plot is unknown and the cast isn't clear just yet regarding whether or not the actors from the first film - motion capture principles Noel Fisher, Alan Ritchson, Jeremy Howard, Pete Plozek and Danny Woodburn, and voice actors Johnny Knoxville and Tony Shahloub, will return with Fox, while it is clear that Will Arnett will be starring in addition to Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio also making an appearance, with the possibility of other classic characters from the early animated series, including mutants Bebop and Rocksteady, and Krang.

The film has presumably started shooting under the working title, Half-Shell, for a release set for June 3, 2016. Stay tuned!

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD Gets A New Trailer. Watch It Now!

Director George Miller's latest dystopian fantasy action revival, Mad Max: Fury Road has been on a social media blitz with growing fanfare attributing some gorgeous fan-based poster art online and short bursts of promo footage via Twitter with the #MadMax hashtag in recent weeks. The fanfare alone, stemming from last year's SDCC trailer, was enough to get a real conversation going on just how well the new film might bode, sporting all kinds of stunning visuals and a fresh look that stays true to the core aesthetic of a Mad Max movie, now with Tom Hardy in the title role.

All things considered, it's a great time to be in the Mad Max camp ahead of its upcoming releases beginning in May, and thankfully, we now have a fresh new trailer from Warner Bros. to help keep the momentum afloat. Watch it below the official press release in addition to a handful of teasers embedded in the player at the very bottom.

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary “Mad Max” franchise, comes “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stars in the title role in “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) stars as the Imperator, Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus; Josh Helman (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Slit; collectively known as The Wives, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is Splendid, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast, Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Fragile. Also featured in the movie are John Howard, Richard Carter, singer/songwriter/performer iOTA, Angus Sampson, Jennifer Hagan, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic, Gillian Jones and Joy Smithers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker George Miller (“Happy Feet”) is directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller is also producing the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar nominee Doug Mitchell (“Babe”, “Happy Feet”), and P.J. Voeten. Iain Smith, Graham Burke and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-winning director of photography John Seale (“The English Patient”), production designer Colin Gibson (“Babe”), editor Margaret Sixel (“Happy Feet”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“A Room with a View”), second unit director/supervising stunt coordinator Guy Norris (“Australia”), and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (“Knowing”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, a George Miller film, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film is scheduled for release on May 15, 2015, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

The film has been rated R by the MPAA for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images.

As the world fell, the madness began. WATCH the exclusive new trailer for #MadMax: Fury Road. https://t.co/KKqFEg86nA
— Mad Max Movie (@MadMaxMovie) March 31, 2015

Cain's Kung Fu Actioner, LEGION OF ONE Gets Co-Production Backing From China

The Next Karate Kid and Young Guns helmer Christopher Cain's attachment to the new film, Legion Of One, has been in the works for some time now. A pitch promo was filmed back in 2013 over at KCW Studios as the brain child of Gung Fu Grandmaster Joel Castillo and it's finally picking up some movement in lieu of film market events overseas last week.

According to Screendaily, Beijing Galloping Horse Group is co-producing the film with Cain's US-based Angry Monkey Entertainment, which centers on a foreign orphan raised among Shaolin to become a kung fu master. The film is just one of two co-productions between both companies, with this one also attaching Karate Kid trilogy and 2010 reboot producer Jerry Weintraub as executive producer.

There's no word yet on who will star, and the short pitch isn't available anywhere online at the moment, but I'll keep an eye out as things move forward.

Watch The Newest Trailer For Paul Feig's Action Comedy, SPY

If there's one thing that director Paul Feig is proving with newest action comedy, Spy, it's the danger of underestimating a good thing. The new film starring Melissa McCarthy and action star Jason Statham has already received several upworthy reviews following its SXSW premiere earlier this month, landing this as a considerably entertaining piece of work from the Feig/McCarthy duo in lieu of their forthcoming Ghostbusters prosepcts.

Keep this in mind, should the earlier red and green-band trailers from January have slipped under your radar, as the film just got a new trailer which you can now watch below ahead of its June 5 release. And to say the least, with some cool R-rated action to accommodate, McCarthy doesn't miss a beat here either.

SYNOPSIS:

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. But when her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.

Watch the brand new trailer for #SpyMovie, starring Jason Statham and @MelissaMcCarthy. In theaters 6/5! https://t.co/QHS6DxSrBN
— Spy Movie (@SpytheMovie) March 31, 2015

THE HIT LIST - March 30, 2015

This was a bit of a last minute stretch as my weekend was a bit busy taking care of other things. Still, hopefully this list is ample enough to give you all something cool to look at. One honorable mention I'll lend is the latest short film trailer for The Betrayal, the debut video for Force Storm Entertainment. There are details you should check out in that regard so click here to learn more about it...

Now, let's get some stuntin' and freerunnin' goin' with today's enlisted reels from Jean-Paul Ly, Justin Charles Evans, Taylor Tai, Gaston Prado, Jordan Thoma, Ari Loeb and Kefi Abrikh, and the amazing talent on hand in the latest video from Ampisound!









Three shortfilm trailers have also made the list: Firstly, a new Predator movie is in the works, but fans of the character can expect something quite special from director James Bushe for the new short, Predator: Dark Ages. Adrian Bouchet, Amed Hashimi, Sabine Crossen, Ben loyd-Holmes, Jon Campling, Joe Egan and Philip Lane star in a story set where our titular hunter eyes a group of Templar knights for its prey. The short is coming soon and already has a social media following.

The next is a second trailer for an upcoming webseries called The Terminal, a sci-fi action packed story filled with detailed intrigue and espionage starring Jonny Caines with Matthew Bennett directing. I spoke with Bennett and cinematographer Sasha Moric about the project earlier last week and you may read more about by clicking here for further info.

The third is a short teaser for another stellar action short from filmmaker Bryan Sloyer with stuntwoman, action actress Amy Sturdivant. Queen is the name of the project, and if you're at all familiar with the growing caliber of Sloyer's action cinema tambre, this one should also service quite nicely. Peep the soundtrack too. Geez!

Queen caps off this roster of shortfilm trailers. Take a look at them!



This one gets a separate mention - it's a sample trailer for a project not yet filmed titled Snake, featuring Usurp Productions's own Mark Poletti and Ashley Waters-Harrison as a means of presenting a concept for something larger with nods to Harrison Ford or actor Ryan Gosling's role in Drive. There's no dialogue, but you can pretty much feel the beat of what's happening, and it is very exciting and well done. Peep it.


Going back behind-the-scenes for a short while, we also have two new videos going viral - The first one is from the EMC Monkeys (the second of two videos so far) looking into the current construction of a larger concept project called Evolution Of Fight. This time, we see member Xin Wuku and guest performer Jimmy Chhiu going for an inspired King Of Fighers-style fight scene as Kyo and Shen Woo, while having some extra fun of their own; The second comes with the mission now underway to crowdfund more episodes of Robot Underdog's inspired series, Dragon Ball Z: Light Of Hope. The video grants an electrifying pre-vizual iteration of the epic brawl between Gohan and young Trunks, and android killers 17 and 18, courtesy of stunt coordinator Tim Storms and his group, Creative Action Team. Watch both below!



And lastly, let's do some fighting! Watch Arcade Killers' latest 'Rooftop' test fight with Slobo and Duy Panouvic, a Raid-style concept fight based on a scene from the second film courtesy of Polish stunt team, Prime Fury, the new zombie short The Parkouring Dead with Travis Parker, Deangelo Harding and Beau Ray Bowels, and the latest manga-inspired experimental test fight, Gunsmith Cat, with witty and electric performances by Vonzell Carter, Michael Lehr and Natalie Padilla.





Subscribe to the channels above and CLICK HERE to view last week's Hit List. If you have a QUALITY action reel, trailer or shortfilm project you would like for us to share, email us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com

Dame Helen Mirren Wants In As A 'Fast And Furious' Villainess, And I Say Make It Happen!

I've pretty much spent the past two years I've been blogging as Film Combat Syndicate, in part, musing about the Fast And Furious franchise. No, my fixation wasn't immediate upon the first film in 2002 - it only became so in the months leading up to this article I wrote in 2013, and to say the least, I stand by my fandom.

That said, I love just how much diversity has gone into this cast and the immense scope this story has taken, from the streets of L.A. and Miami to Tokyo, Mexico, Rio and London, and a variety of talented actors and surprising new faces adding to the mix. Who would have thought that the likes of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Djimon Hounsou, or even Gina Carano or Jason-frickin-Statham would find their way into the franchise. It's unbelievable, but the potential here is quite obvious even as we embark on a seventh journey into Universal Pictures's most beloved franchise built on speed.

With any luck, we will learn more about whether or not there will be another Fast And Furious film, and hopefully previous calls to cast the likes of Jason Statham's Expendables 2 screenfighting half, action star Scott Adkins following previous fan-based efforts to help get him recognition. In the meantime, Yahoo! has forwarded a quote from Red and Red 2 co-star and The Queen star, actress Dame Helen Mirren who is making the case for her own role as a villainess in the franchise. And you know what? I'm for it!

"My great ambition is to be in a Fast and Furious movie." she said. "I so want to be a mad driver in a Fast and Furious movie. My claim to fame is I always do my own driving — I was on Top Gear, and I did [my lap] in a very good time. I keep putting it out there, and they never ask me. I’ll be in Fast and Furious 8. I have to say Vin Diesel is brilliant. I love Vin Diesel. He’s a great guy, smart — I love him. It’s partly because of him I’d like to be in one, but also the driving. I’d also love to do another Red-type movie, because those are such fun to do."

Considering the saga has already come off the heels of its London adventures and our heroes have already made an enemy of the Shaw family after taking out Deckard's brother, Owen (Luke Evans) in number six, I would not mind seeing Mirren portray a similar-accented villain - possibly a Matriarch of the Shaw family who learns who Dom Torretto (Vin Diesel) is, and sets her sights on trying to kill them as well...but not before a searing race to the deadly finish first. Now that's something I'm down for, but either way, I hope Universal sees something in her. She's a damn good actress and would certainly add to the dramatic caliber and framework of the Fast And Furious formula for high octane action, suspense, poignance, thrills and continued themes centered on family.

I can't forsee an end right now, and I hope Universal plans something epic with the next phase of F&F films. In the meantime, don't forget to purchase your tickets this week for Furious 7!

QUESTION: What do you guys think? Would Dame Helen Mirren make a great villain for a this saga or not? Speak freely below or on our Facebook page!

JAY BASU To Script METAL GEAR SOLID For Sony

The Pier scribe, Jay Basu has become a studio favorite as of late, having recently been tapped to help pen a flurry of writings including Universal Pictures's currently-developing cinematic monsterverse following Dracula Untold, and an adaptation of Julie Kagawa's fantasy action novel series, Talon, last year. Hopefully he's had some time to breathe in between, because now it appears that Sony Pictures is following suit with their own forthcoming adaptation of the popular Playstation favorite, Metal Gear Solid, according to Deadline.

The live action film was originally announced by game director Kojima Hideo prior to a series of false starts. Initially released on several Playstation platforms in 1998 courtesy of Konami with more games that followed, Metal Gear Solid tells the story of Snake, a soldier on a stealth mission to rescue two hostages and neutralize a nuclear threat from renegade special forces unit, Foxhound. Avi and Ari Arad are producing the film with Michael DeLuca steering the production, and The Kings Of Summer helmer Jordan Vogt-Roberts directing.

Basu's latest scriptwork with writer/director Tom Green for Monsters: Dark Continent is gearing up for a release later this year.

Disney Takes To Task For A Live-Action MULAN Film!

There should be no shortage of US/Chinese co-productions these days with the longstanding popularity of Asian film lore also a factor. If anything, there's even more potential than before to take what once might have been standalone films and turn them into sprawling 3.4-part serial movie epics similar to female-centric YA actioners like Lionsgate's The Hunger Games and The Divergent Series franchises to name a few.

With that in mind, don't be surprised if Disney grants the same treatment to their newly announced live-action revamp of the 1998 animated musical action adventure, Mulan. THR reports that screenwriters Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek have been brought on board with producers Chris Miller and J.C. Spink to furbish a live-action telling based on the film directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook which told the story of a young woman who takes her father's place in the Chinese army and ultimately becomes the country's greatest heroine. At the time of its release, Mulan raked in more than $304 million dollars globally for Disney and gained notoriety between several Golden Globe and Acadamy Award nods before moving forward with a homeward-bound sequel; Both films are the latest iteration of the title character inspired by following ancient poems, plays and other written works that collectively date as far back as the 6th century before the Tang Dynasty.

With the momentum Disney seems to be gaining these days from turning their animated classics into live-action reboots, Mulan is sure to fire up fans of Asian cinema, and depending on how this one does, it may very well become the sprawling multi-film epic one may hope for. Mini talking dragon friends and all.

Stay tuned!

FURIOUS 7 Is Back On Track In Thailand

Thai audiences can now breathe a sigh of relief this week for the release of international action star Tony Jaa's latest Hollywood debut, Furious 7. Word from The Bangkok Post reports that the Civil Court has lifted the injunction initially requested by Jaa's former management, Sahamongkol Film International Co., Ltd. against Universal Pictures and the film's Thailand distributor, United International Pictures Far East Co.

The injunction came several days ago at the behest of Sahamongkol's chief founder and executive, Somsak Techarantanaprasert who asked for THB 1.6 billion (roughly $50 million USD) claiming the release of the film would cause irreversible damages to the company. The decision to lift the injunction ultimately came as the result of Techarantanaprasert having known about the film as of two years ago when, in a separate court in front of a different judge, he, in the company of director Prachya Pinkaew and Panna Rittikrai accused Jaa of breaching a contract which Jaa and his new manager, Mike Selby have long argued its non-existence.

I spoke to an individual last week pertaining to the legal specifics and details regarding both cases and you can read about them by clicking here. In the meantime, an official court hearing regarding the contract dispute still is pending for June. As for the decision, it's a clear sign that any attempt Techarantanaprasert makes to try and stifle Jaa's career growth beyond their shared history with the Ong Bak trilogy and Tom Yum Goong films is a violation of Thai law, if not simply an abuse of power. In a nutshell, Jaa is in better straits these days, while hopefully Sahamongkol will find a way to improve how they treat their performers and clients alike, because headlines like these can't be good for business.

Furious 7 rolls in Thailand on April 1 prior to its premieres and releases later this week in the U.S. and other territories throughout the month.

Watch The New Teaser For AMC TV's INTO THE BADLANDS!

AMC Television is currently ramping up a promotional campaign for its 2015 slate, which now officially includes the current preparation and production of the new martial arts series, officially titled Into The Badlands. The show has been picking up steam for many months now since its announcement last July prior to landing international film star, actor Daniel Wu to lead the cast of the new series with The Judge helmer David Dobkin directing.

The network has announcement the official title with a Fall premiere date to accommodate the brand new series teaser which you can now check out at the bottom of the page. Check it out and watch for more news ahead!

Into the Badlands is a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. In a land controlled by feudal barons, Into the Badlands tells the story of a great warrior and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment.

"We’re incredibly excited to blaze the trail, bringing a martial arts drama to television," says writer/co-showrunner Miles Millar. 

The show stars Hong Kong film star and master martial arts filmmaker Daniel Wu (City of Glass, The Heavenly Kings), Emily Beecham (28 Weeks Later, The Village), Sarah Bolger (The Tudors, In America) and Oliver Stark (The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box, My Hero). The project was created by writers/showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Smallville). They'll serve as Executive Producers alongside Oscar-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (Pulp Fiction, Contagion), as well as Stephen Fung and Daniel Wu (Tai Chi Zero).

H/T: AMC TV

Fuqua's THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Gets A Release Date!

Director Antoine Fuqua's western thriller revival, The Magnificent Seven, is still in the casting phase with just five actors enlisted, so there's still a ways to go before we hear anything about who gets to apprear. In the meantime, MGM is planting its flag for the film's release on January 13, 2017, according to reports forwarded by ComingSoon.net.

Actress Haley Bennett, and actors Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke are all tapped to star in the film alongside leading man Denzel Washington in his latest return to the set with Fuqua in what will be their fourth pairing since the 1999 film, Training Day and last year's box office reign of the hit action thriller TV adaptation, The Equalizer. Netflix's Daredevil co-star, actor Vincent D'onofrio is expected to join the cast as the main villain in a story based on John Sturges's titular 1960 film inspired by the 1954 classic, Seven Samurai.

There's still no word yet on when filming will start. In the meantime, Fuqua's latest Oscar-inspired boxing drama, Southpaw is currently bound to release in July. Click here for the trailer if you missed it and stay tuned for more details!

Sahamongkol Wants To Block FURIOUS 7 In Thailand. Here Is Why They Might Lose.

At the rate things were, it seemed that cinemas in Thailand were on course for the impending release of director James Wan's Furious 7, the franchise that has garnered its fair share of love and support from fans worldwide. As it stands though, at least one person saw fit to dampen the fanfare, specifically speaking Sahamongkol's own founder and chief executive Somsak Techaratanaprasert who reportedly filed an injunction against the release of the film following a longstanding contract dispute with actor and martial arts superstar, Tony Jaa.

It was back in 2013 as news broke that Jaa would star in the film when Techarantanaprasert went into contention over what was stated as a breach of a recently-signed ten-year contract with the company, going public via press conference with filmmaker Prachya Pinkaew and action director Panna Rittikrai at the time. Jaa's manager, Mike Selby, responded to the media, in kind, regarding said press conference, stating there was no contract in place and that the matter was looked over carefully and concluded his statement by adding that "...Thailand abolished slavery many years ago, and Thai courts consider provable damages in labor contract disputes, and nothing more than that...".

Thai law stipulates that no one can be forced to work against their will, and in this case, Sahamongkol would have to prove damages as a result of a broken contract (upon which such a contract can not be reinstated or continued) - a contract which Jaa has consistently disputed in its alleged existence and has always denied signing. Nonetheless, the hype this week appears to stem from Techarantanaprasert's filing of an injunction against the release of the film in Thailand in a new district court seperate from the one in which the original dispute was being heard, on top of seeking compensation to the tune of almost $50 million (1.6 billion baht), which is odd considering the original claim in 2013 was much closer to $5 million (or 162.5 million baht) for supposedly making Jaa famous.

I spoke to an individual close to Jaa's camp, and according to said person, aside from the fact that the contract case is still being disputed as of 2013, Techarantanaprasert's injunction required that there be an emergency condition with unfixable damages should the film release. However, the fact that the studio executive knew about Furious 7 for two years and is now demanding monetary compensation shows that no emergency condition existed, thus undermining his case for an injunction.

So there you have it. The original 2013 case should officially get some movement this summer where the validity of the contract must be decided by the court before it can even consider provable damages in Sahamongkol's favor, and from the looks of it with all things considered, Jaa and his team may be on the winning end of history anyway. As for the injunction, which appears to be nothing more than a shameless smearing act against a flourishing star by a disgruntled studio executive, the unknown road ahead for Furious 7 could very well lead to Thai cinemas on April 1, with further releases of Jaa's next films, Skin Trade and S.P.L. 2: A Time For Consequences, unhindered by studio malfeasance.

Stay tuned for more information.

J.J. Approved! Watch The New Trailer For Force Storm Entertainment's Debut Short, THE BETRAYAL!

If you were around about a year ago or so, you may recall previous reports on the announcement of actor, martial artist, writer, producer and stuntman Noah Fleder's inspired production base, Force Storm Entertainment. Built on the brewing reinvigoration of impending Star Wars fandom, with thanks in large part to the facilitators at Crestec Studios in Torrance, California, Fleder and the folks behind the scenes have been working toward developing a substantive platform for the shared vision at Force Storm Entertainment to accomodate fans with a variety of shortfilms and skits ranging from mockumentary-style comedy and laughs to impeccable drama, action and stuntwork.

Having previously worked with independent martial arts action cinema favorite, Unlucky Stars co-star and action director, filmmaker Vlad Rimburg on several online action shorts in the past including The Flow channel webseries, The Hunt, Force Storm Entertainment will debut its channel with the long-awaited action shortfilm release, The Betrayal on April 5, featuring Fleder and Rimburg with principle performances by Mickey Facchinello, Brendon Huor, Gui DaSilva, Jimmy Chhiu, Tony Chu, and Power Rangers: Dino Charge star Yoshua Sudarso. The Betrayal will mark the first of a slate of videos kicking off an eight week production cycle following the channel's launch on Sunday, March 29, 2015 with an announcement video by Fleder that now includes a fresh new teaser trailer for The Betrayal following the first teaser which aired on March 8.

The launch of the channel comes with great timing just as the surge among fans is rising with passioned awareness of director J.J. Abrams's forthcoming December release, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and other films that will follow suit. The next major star-studded Star Wars event is set to take place for the tenth Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim for four days on the weekend of April 16, and in lieu of this, Force Storm Entertainment has already caught the attention of quite a few important people within the leading ranks of the Star Wars community, and in no way do I imply this as an understatement. To say the least, 2015 is a damn good year to be a Star Wars fan, and the momentum and potential is surely resonant for Force Storm Entertainment with the approval they're getting and are continuing to acquire, particularly from a certain director of certain film coming this year.

"Really fun short film. Fighting is very well done. Now I really need to up my game!!!"

~JJ Abrams

As a noteworthy mention, Force Storm Entertainment is one of two channels Fleder is hosting this month with his upcoming martial arts tutorial channel, Martial Way, which will launch on the same day. That makes two reasons to pay close attention to what Fleder is doing this year while he maintains his place on the radar for fans and netizens alike who love martial arts, science fiction and all things comic-con.

If you fell asleep on this since my last report, now is as good a time as any to wake up and subscribe to Force Storm Entertainment. Watch Fleder's announcement video below and follow the Storm on Facebook and Twitter!

Matthew Bennett And Sasha Moric Discuss New Webseries, THE TERMINAL

It'll be a few months before we hear anything more on the long-awaited release of Canadian film duo, Matthew Bennett and Sasha Moric's indie action thriller, Concrete: Gangs Of Union City which will soon land in the U.S., the Middle East and throughout Asia. In the meantime, the two are pairing once more for another project they've been processing for quite a while in the form of the new webseries, The Terminal, starring actor and martial artist, Jonny Caines with Bennett directing and Moric handling cinematography.

I got to chat for a bit with with Bennett and Moric earlier this week learned a little bit about their own fascinations in film and what got them started on the project. With the latter, as it turns out, all it took was a RED camera, a little bit of creativity, and two very talented, physically able actors, and some very "brave" networking.

Bennett spoke on his own behalf regarding the series in its conception, with Moric lending his own personal insight on his career and how it led to collaborating with his newfound partner.

Bennett: Sasha is a genius with finding locations, so he found this amazing abandoned warehouse to shoot in, while I wrote down a vague story about two groups fighting over control of a secret computer system. We put out an advert on Craigslist for actors and actresses, they just came to the shoot, that day, completely sight unseen. They were very brave actually, we could have been anyone.

Then we all broke into the warehouse, dragged a generator inside, and shot for a few hours.  We had a prop airsoft Glock 22, but some skateboarding kids stole it and took off. So basically, it was all about improvising the core of the idea on that first day -  Sasha and I had to wing most of our way through it up on the spot.

Then we did another shoot day similar to that and met Jonny Caines and Craig Henry for the very first time, and they created an action sequence for us. It was a day that felt very fateful as we all bonded very well together, and we’ve been doing projects together ever since! After that I took the material home, cut it, added the VFX as well as voice-over work for exposition, basically in an attempt to construct a firm story out of it. And again, this was all on the fly, and nothing was really planned. This was before we sat on it for seven years while being busy with other things, and thankfully it was Jonny who rose like a Phoenix and really got things rolling, eventually getting award-winning producer Marc-Andre Miron to help pitch for IPF Funding, as well as the executive producer of Lost Girl, Plato Fountidakis.

Moric: Over the past few years I have relenquished my director's hat seeing as my passion nowadays has been cinematography. I have had the pleasure of working on some cool projects like last year's TIFF selection, The Editor, as well as shooting a feature last year called The Performance which is still in post. It was my first opportunity to work with some amazing actors, including Oscar-nominated Graham Greene from Dances With Wolves, lead actor Nick Mancuso who is an amazing talent and equally-talented UK actress Sienna Guillory, and Nick Campbell, also truly amazing actor. That film changed the course of my career, and I have been fortunate in securing an agent in L.A. and I have hopes to get into the Local 667 this year as a DP.

With The Terminal, we have a really stellar team. I love sci-fi and action, and I have high hopes for this series. One thing I will certainly add is that anytime Matt and I have the opportunity to work together, there is magic that develops and I always look forward to the end result. We have quite an unorthodox system where we usually go out and shoot something; On set, I have tons of freedom to explore and gather footage before Matt goes back to his secret lair of solitude like the mad scientist he is to do what he does best. After all said done, he gives birth to some truly magical films.  It’s a system that works for us, and I always get excited in seeing what he comes up with.

I couldn't discuss much about the series since it is still in a development and funding phase. However, on top of their previous testimonies, Bennett and Moric also shared a little bit about what their inspirations were behind the series in its technological setting.

Bennett: Idea wise, a big influence was the general history of invention and innovation. Quite often, the most important inventions or discoveries are actually byproducts or unwanted side effects of trying to invent something else. In The Terminal - the AI’s consciousness is a side effect of trying to develop a new telecommunication system.

Style-wise, the four biggest influences on this project are The Terminator (1984) for its handling of exposition, and dialogue between action scenes, Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982) for their production design and treatment of visual themes.  Those films are incredible examples of designing around central themes, but making it work almost subconsciously at times. And the fourth would be Speed (1994), because it’s the ultimate example of narrative momentum. Plus, it’s just damn fun to watch too.

For The Terminal our ambition is to make it the most action-packed, edge of your seat online series of all time, all while still filling it with a huge amount of backstory and detail. In a way, this series is sort of the reverse of The Terminator and/or The Matrix, in that it features an A.I. that has to join with human minds to protect it’s own existence. Maybe that was a bit spoiler-ish to say on my part, but I'll let your readers decide.

My own favourite shows are actually just drama and crime shows, Breaking Bad, True Detective and The Fall were my recent favourites. 

Moric: I agree with Matt wholeheartedly on his references. He really hit the nail on the head. Also, we want viewers to know that in no way do we want to try and imitate the application of these aesthetics. My goal, and I think Matt would agree, is to create a world and a style that has not been done before. But one thing is true, though: The character arcs and human stories of great dramas like Breaking Bad and House Of Cards are something we want to have in our series.  If we can successfully combine great action with amazing characters set in a future world I feel we will have a true winner.

Bennett and Moric are currently undergoing a campaign to help finance the series through Canada's Independent Production Fund program, wherein they may hopefully move forward on the second phase of the process if they can get enough views. I initially shared the trailer three weeks ago, so if you missed it, watch it below or click here to view the trailer with a detailed synopsis.

Tim Miller's DEADPOOL Gets A Synopsis

With great power, comes great irresponsibility. #deadpool #officialsuit @deadpoolmovie pic.twitter.com/MPM89bYz1B
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) March 27, 2015

It's been an electrifying time for the production of director Tim Miller's long-awaited feature Marvel adaptation, Deadpool from 20th Century Fox. Actor Ryan Renyolds finally debut the first official look of his titular character in the new film via Twitter this week in ceremonious fashion as things kick off for its release next year on February 12 with a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick which aims to revitalize the character in fresh form long after Renyolds debuted the unmasked role himself with action star Scott Adkins in Gavin Hood's 2009 helmer, X-Men Orgins: Wolverine.

There's plenty more being planned for further advancement of the character with other projects in development, so fans will hopefully approve of what comes next, and it's already looking up considering the positive reception from fans on previously-leaked CG test footage as well as the photos we've so far seen. The cast itself is already drawing some noteworthy attention with T.J. Miller in the supporting role of Weasel, mixed martial artist and actress Gina Carano as Angel Dust, and lead actress Morena Baccarin as Vanessa who is expected by many to also portray her alterego, Copycat, in addition to The Transporter Refueled star, actor Ed Skrein in an unknown role with mentions of possibly playing fellow mercenary Garrison Kane. Of course, all details are pending regarding just exactly how these actors will fit into the script at hand, but all seems well with nearly zero complaints from fans given what little there is to know so far. That said, the official synopsis from the studio is adding even more approval for fans eager for catch this new gem on the big screen.

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Sounds pretty tight. Check back for more info on Deadpool, and remember to follow Renyolds on Twitter for more magical moments by the campfire...or not.

 

H/T: The Daily Superhero

SPECTRE Emerges Online With A New Teaser!

From this day forward, there will be no shortage of hype among fans familiar with the latest renaissance of James Bond movies featuring actor Daniel Craig following the success he's had with Casino Royale reboot, Quantum Of Solace and the 2012 Winter success of Skyfall. This year, we move on to the continued start of a new beginning for the title character based on Ian Fleming's novels all with an assortment of new faces reprising classic characters for the next phase of superspy 007's globetrotting endeavors in this, the 24th feature film in the franchise, Spectre, lending its titular attribute to the '61 and '62 films, Thunderball and Dr. No.

SYNOPSIS:

A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Ultimately, we're bound to find out just how returning director Sam Mendes's take on the pin-pointed rebooting of classic elements for the new Bond movies as of late will bode with audiences critical and fond of the franchise as a whole. Nonetheless, there's no question here as to the amount of entertainment we will be in for with the scale of these movies only getting bigger and bigger with each film bringing us closer to knowing our hero just a little more before adding further layers of intrigue - This, all while keeping us at the edge of our brainseats with morsels of intrigue, espionage, beautiful femme fatales and thrilling, big scale action sequences that signify all that sustain the freshness of the Bond brand. Will there be more after this? Well, you're guess is as good as mine, but considering how long and hard people have fought to keep this franchise alive, it seems only necessary as part of our global DNA in the history of film. At any rate, this one is coming on November 6, 2015 courtesy of Sony, so prepare for a Holiday night out at the movies when this one hits stateside.

Craig is joined by Naomi Harris, Ben Wishaw and Ralph Fiennes with Christoph Waltz, Dave Bautista, Léa Seydoux, Stephanie Sigman, Monica Bellucci, Andrew Scott and Rory Kinnear, with a script by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

Watch the first official teaser for Spectre in the player below!

The ROAD WARS Rage On! Watch The New Trailer

Director Mark Atkins's most recent pairing with actress and producer Natalie Burn for the new survival thriller, Awaken, is currently gearing up for opening night at the Artemis Women In Action Film Festival in Los Angeles on April 24. In the meantime, he's currently readying his newest release from The Asylum, Road Wars - undoubtedly a timely outing considering the Mad Max fanfare being generated this season.

SYNOPSIS:

After the earth's water supply is depleted, the survivors form roving road gangs, armed to the teeth and desperate to find and protect water supplies. But when a new breed of blood-drinking humans emerges, the survivors must contend with a whole new threat to their existence.

The official trailer debuted today, so feel free to check it out below and mark the date for its May 5 home release!

Oscar-winning Writer Akiva Goldsman Tapped To Lead Efforts For A TRANSFORMERS Cinematic Universe

Cue the anti-Bay rage!

Deadline is reporting that Oscar-winning writer Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend) is negotiating with Paramount Pictures to head his own "writers room" to contemplate the future of the Transformers movies, thus focusing on spin-offs and potential two-part sequel following last year's Transformers: Age Of Extinction. This probably doesn't bode well with critics and fans of the classic Hasbro toy franchise and TV series who have had a bone to pick with Bay for one reason or several since he brought the warring Autobots and Decepticons to life in 2007 starring that actor who is not famous anymore. But then again, for a franchise that has made close to four billion dollars since then, they probably just don't give a damn, because, well... giant alien robots fighting each other, and explosions makes money. So... yeah.

There's no word yet on whether or not Mark Wahlberg will return to star what with all he has going on in addition to other things, including becoming The Six-Billion Dollar Man, although legendary voice actor Peter Cullen may likely come back as Optimus Prime, which is only necessary at this point. At any rate though, if history serves us correctly and repeats itself, there's probably no reason to stay hugely optimistic if you're hoping for the kind of live-action Transformers movie you've been waiting for for the last eight years while Bay is attached, whether it's as producer or director; Hopefully however, Goldsman's involvement could lead to something redeemable. Time will tell.

As for all other matters of film, Bay is currently working on a film of a more sensitive nature titled 13 Hours which will likely take more on a tone people can appreciate, so keep your eyes peeled.

Check Out An Extended TV Spot For TERMINATOR: GENIYSYS

The forthcoming reboot this summer with Terminator: Genisys hasn't been all hype and excitement, but the production so far seems keen on introducing as much of the unexplored source material as possible which could be a good thing. It's really just a matter of who cares at this point, but nonetheless, if this franchise is something you've already grown to appreciate even as its mainstay, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has found a way to stick around despite his age, chances are you'll love this one, and with any luck, director Alan Taylor's work here will forsee the new trilogy waiting to happen.

In the meantime, we've got ourselves a new TV spot which demands your attention, so take a look below and remember to mark the date for July 1, and say hello to J.K. Simmons while you're at it!

IP MAN 3D To Be Donnie Yen's Last Action Film

There's no question that international action star Donnie Yen has had a massive and memorable career following his vast cultural upbringing in the states and abroad. His earlier career with Yuen Wo Ping before growing his own team which would see a diverse enlistment of names like Michael Woods, John Salvitti, Yuji Shimomura and Kenji Tanigaki have contributed greatly to his status as a Hong Kong superstar in film while wearing several hats from star to produer and director, and even crossing over between Asia, Europe, and for a time or two, Hollywood.

Needless to say, it's been a hell of a ride for Yen who has since moved onto starting his own production banner, Super Hero Films back in 2013 with the looming possibility that he would retire his footing in front of the camera one day. He's made conversation of it on multiple occasions, and such a topic now comes on the seven-year lifespan of surging popularity he's received following his legendary execution of the title role, Ip Man for director Wilson Yip - the forth in a string of hits reviving the glorious aesthetic of Hong Kong action cinema between star and director since the 2005 crime pic, Sha Po Lang.

Ip Man was a box-office hit in 2008 following its sequel featuring Yen with fellow legends Sammo Hung and late action star, actor Darren Shahlavi in 2010, and while a third had been in development hell for the time being, Yen was still piling up on projects that still haven't seen much news as of late, including his two projects for Super Hero Films - 70's cop thriller Dragon City with director Derek Kwok and the 70's kung fu drama, The Master with Soi Cheang directing. Then there's the matter of the second part of Yen's most critically received film as of late, Iceman which ended up being split in two parts due to budget concerns among other things.

The list really does go on, what with Noodle Man still in the running, but now it appears Yen is ready to draw the line in the wake of the latest news of production finally kicking off for Ip Man 3D with Wilson Yip directing. Yen has been keeping to social media about this project much more in recent days while ramping up his own excitement in having actor and former world heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson on board for the film in addition to showcasing this final installment with a CG-hybrid performance of a young Bruce Lee, a point of the titular Wing Chun grandmaster's own history.

Moreover, it was just today that Yen posted on Facebook that he would make Ip Man 3D the best movie of his career, and for good reason, as Jaynestars now forwards news that Yen plans on making Ip Man 3D, incidentally, his final film. As for whether or not that means his last film in front of the camera or on set in general remains to be seen, although the Jaynestars article does cite Yen stating issues pointed to creativity over physical endurance when it comes to action, specifically as he's had to shred some weight for his role in its aging state.

So, what next? Of course, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2 is still on par for this August with some much-needed info about Noodle Man and Iceman Part 2, but what of Dragon City or The Master, or even these titles? Those are questions that need answering, and hopefully those answers will be made clear long before then.

For now though, for better or worse, Ip Man 3D appears to be the final straw for Yen whose career has served a major purpose in embodying the genre and what it has become today. Cheers to Yen and his wife Cissy Wang, and while I won't say goodbye just yet, I will say, Good Luck.

I'm setting the goal for Ipman 3 to be the best movie of my career ! Lets bring it on!!
Posted by Donnie Yen-甄子丹 Official on Friday, March 27, 2015

Stay tuned for more info.

Jake Gyllenhaal Fights For His Comeback In The New Trailer For SOUTHPAW

Last year's release of the Dan Gilroy-directed Nightcrawler became a winner among movie goers for actor Jake Gyllenhaal who proves time and again to have the caliber to deliver some of the intriguing performances to date. This year, the actor is back, beefed up and bound for more glory with his newest effort, Southpaw, now in the good company of filmmaker Antoine Fuqua with Kurt Sutter and Richard Wenk penning the story of Billy Hope a young boxing champion forced to overcome immense odds amid tragedy, self-destruction and judicial indignance to gain his daughter back from the system.

Rachel McAdams also stars along with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Forest Whitaker with appearances by Rita Ora and The Expendables 3 co-star, boxer and actor Victor Ortiz. The Weinstein Company is giving this one a July 31 release in the U.S., and thankfully we have a trailer to show just what we are in for, and it looks absolutely intense. Check it out!

#MADMAX Unleashes 16 Seconds Of Crazy!

Cannes is granting an out-of-selection screening of director George Miller's latest bit of cinema fanfare revival, Mad Max: Fury Road, this May upon its theatrical release. It's all the hype for those who have grown fond of the previous titles starring Mel Gibson in the title role as the renegade outlaw in a dystopian world of sand, blood and fire, and gasoline is the ultimate commodity for survival, which surely makes for a heavy undertaking for actor Tom Hardy in lieu of any possible sequels that could follow.

In the meantime, Warner Bros. has unleashed a new sneak peek. Short but sweet, and loaded with crazy. R-rated crazy. Watch it below, and keep tweeting #MadMax for more as the campaign rolls on!

Watch The New Trailer For Nishimura's Fantasy Ninja Epic, TORAKAGE

Director Nishimura Yoshihiro's resume is much ado with all sorts of envelope-pushing aesthetics for Japanese fantasy action, sci-fi and horror, with titles like Tokyo Gore Police and Zombie TV to name a few. With this, his latest contribution now in the form of Torakage (a.k.a. The Ninja War Of Torakage) should service nicely for those who can never get enough of some good ole' Sengoku-era splatter action with ninjas, sexy witches and creature lore.

SYNOPSIS:

Retired from ninja duty, Torakage lives a peaceful life in a small village with his wife and son. One day, Torakage’s son is kidnapped by his former master in an attempt to force him to break into a nearby castle and steal the Gold Scroll, the counterpart to her Silver Scroll, the two of which when brought together point the way to a vast treasure. Having no choice, Torakage and his wife sneak into the castle. However, their plan goes awry and the two are caught and turned over to the evil lord. Now, with his wife a hostage of the lord, Torakage must bring him the Silver Scroll held by his former master or forfeit her life! Utilizing weaponry crafted by an eccentric inventor, Torakage takes on both sides and plays them and their ninja armies off each other in the hope of saving his family.

The film, starring Saitoh Takumi and cult favorite Shiina Eihi, is still headed for film festival circulation in Brussels whence more festival screenings may be planned or expected before or after its June 20 release in Japan. In the meantime, check out the freshly released trailer just below.

Common, Thorton Join Butler In Campbell's Sub Thriller, HUNTER KILLER

Following Green Lantern and Casino Royale helmer Martin Campbell's attachment to the upcoming production of espionage submarine thriller, Hunter Killer as of late last year, Variety broke word that actor Gerard Butler will be joined by actors Common and Billy Bob Thorton. The film is based on the 2012 novel, "Firing Point", co-written by Don Keith and retired U.S. Navy Commander George Wallace as a follow up to their 2003 best seller, "Final Bearing", the latter book which centered on an espionage driven tale of the U.S.'s mission to put an end to a South American drug kingpin and his expansive cartel.

Common and Thorton will star in the respective roles of Rear Admiral John Fisk and Admiral Charles Donnegan, with Butler starring as Joe Glass, the untested captain of the USS Toledo who must foil a nefarious plot to start World War III by a rogue general holding the Russian president hostage in a sinked submarine a thousand feet below sea level under the polar ice cap. Origin Films's Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe are producing with Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, with Relativity president Tucker Tooley serving as executive producer from a script by Peter Craig.

Common, off the heels of winning an Academy Award with singer John Legend for the hit song, "Glory" for the Selma soundtrack, currently stars in Jaume Collet-Serra's new Liam Neeson thriller, Run All Night, while Thorton will soon appear in Doug Ellin's June 5 feature theatrical extention of the hit show, Entourage. Butler can next be seen in Babak Najafi's October 2 sequel release, London Has Fallen.

Steven Seagal Gets ABSOLUTION In The New Trailer

While we await the verdict on the production of actor Steven Seagal's new film, Code Of Honor, or a third Under Siege film or any number of titles he may have had in mind or might be tied to, Lionsgate is snagging the rights to distribute the new action pic, Absolution. It's his fifth film with director and writer Keoni Waxman following recent films like A Good Man and Maximum Conviction, so it's considerable to see a such a pairing as this with Seagal in his usual heavy-set, monotone tough-guy element which hardcore fans will appreciate.

SYNOPSIS:

When a contract killer (Steven Seagal) encounters a girl on the run from a dangerous mob boss (Vinnie Jones) with powerful political ties, running a human trafficking operation, he is torn between protecting the girl, and remaining loyal to the government agency that hired him.

Seagal reunites with Belly Of The Beast co-star Byron Mann, in addition to Josh Barnett and actor Vinnie Jones. The film gets its day in May so check out the trailer courtesy of IGN if it suits you!

Niharica Raizada Is A Kung Fu Sun Goddess In The New Teaser For Param Gill's WARRIOR SAVITRI

While director Param Gill's new film reads as a modern nod to ancient Hindu mythos, it certainly bares its share of attention-getting beauty and radiance coupled with stylish action to boot, and let's face it: Rigorous kung fu training never looked so lush!

Yes, it's the latest teaser for Gill's kung fu romance epic, Warrior Savitri, lending an adaptation of a classic tale of romantic and divine meaning. As for how it all fits with leading lady Niharica Raizada and English pin-up model Lucy Pinder making her latest acting gig with action auteur Tim Man and action cult favorite, actor Ron Smoorenburg getting his screen time as the villain, well.. time will tell. At the very least, the footage below is worth the glimpse for action cinephiles alike.

The film releases this October, so take a look and watch for more news ahead!

Donnie Yen Actioner KUNG FU KILLER Gets A Killer New U.S. Trailer

Being a Donnie Yen fan in 2015 comes with some perks, especially with distributors taking notice, and Well Go USA's forthcoming U.S. release of Yen's 2014 martial arts crime hit, Kung Fu Killer is no exception. The film is one of the most highly measured titles to date from dear director Teddy Chen as of late with Yen making the most of his booming career in the expanding world of Asian film lore from Hong Kong and abroad for today's generation. In lieu of this, fans ever-eager to enjoy what audiences in Hong Kong and China get dibs at first will proudly do so when Well Go USA finally releases Kung Fu Killer in select theaters on April 24.

SYNOPSIS:

A vicious serial killer is targeting top martial arts masters, and convicted criminal and kung-fu master Hahou (Donnie Yen) is the only one with the skills to stop him. Released from jail and into police custody, they soon have their doubts about Hahou’s true allegiance after a series of mysterious events. Hunted by an unstoppable killer (Wang Baoqiang) and the entire police force, Hahou finds himself on his own, leading to a final battle you have to see to believe in this action-packed, kung fu crime thriller from director Teddy Chen (Bodyguards & Assassins, The Accidental Spy).

Watch the trailer below and head to the official website for tickets on their respective dates, locations and showtimes!

It's Father And Zombie Daughter Against The World In The New Trailer For MAGGIE

The least you would exepct is to see your world turn upside down in the wake of a plague that turns people into sickly cannibals. That said, welcome to Maggie, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest world of spine-chilling chaos induced by director Henry Hobson and co-starring actress Abigail Breslin with a story centered on one Midwest father's devout protection of his ailing daughter amid her slow and agonizing transformation into a zombie.

The film has already scored some points from Lionsgate who pulled the film from its Toronto screening last year upon acquiring it. Thankfully the film will get its day at the TriBeCa film fest next month before it release on May 8, and for a small-scale zombie epic, Maggie definitely looks like a worthy treat worth enjoying this summer, filled with just the kind of intense drama you might be looking for in a zombie thriller of this kind, servicing a seemingly cool change of pace for Schwarzenegger compared to his usual blow 'em up flicks.

Watch the trailer below and keep an eye out for more news ahead.

[UPDATED] Meet The Global Cast Of Kazakh-Produced Actioner, THE WHOLE WORLD AT OUR FEET In Its Latest Trailer

Action film production at large is a bit tight and can endure its share of challenges. Such is the case for debut writer and director Salamat Mukhammed-Ali and writer/producer Dauren Mussa's long-awaited Kazakh-produced action drama, The Whole World At Our Feet, which wrapped production in 2011 as a milestone achievement for the genre within the region, as rare as it is for action films to be made in many areas of the world while Kazakhstan certainly has its share of titles invested in the genre for fans domestic and abroad, and in that regard, on top of some of the stellar action sequences now seen in the latest trailer, the impressive cast list surely speaks for itself as well.

SYNOPSIS:

Only one lusted glance induced a whole range of events which, like a shot would plunge a young lady ‘Aliya’ into a criminal abyss. But even in that vortex of flame and passion standing on the rocks, at the death’s door she had the only bailout remained which was her true love. It was crucial at that moment to endeavor a lot in order to preserve the honor and dignity and at that point the whole world would be at your feet!

Armand Assante, late actor Peter O’Toole, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Michael Madsen all headline the film's international cast with notable action favorites like Tommy Lister, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Оlivier Gruner and Bolo Yeung, joining the film's regional cast roster featuring Russia's Alexei Frandetti and Kazakh cast members Karlygash Mukhamedzhanova, Nurlan Altayev, Mikhail Tokarev, Serik Bimurzin and Murat Bisenbin. The film is finally set to release theatrically later this week while any and all updates pertaining to its distribution beyond Kazakh borders may be pending, although considering who is starring, I'd say its bound to happen sooner or later. On that note, perhaps this is just the film to help continue putting Kazakhstan's film industry forward.

Check out the trailer below as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette (no English subs, sadly, but thankfully a dear friend of mine, pennamed Takai, translated the dialogue. I'm not familiar with all of the performers seen below so just feel free to read along).

Female voice: Two years ago, I worked at a casino owned by one very rich man. On a certain day, everything went downhill, beginning with the first hand (of cards).
Man: Just now, you've lost a ton of money. [scene change] You've given me the right to your life. I will give you the whole world as a gift. I will make you the owner of all this. [scene change] You owe me!
Blond woman: I've heard you started working here to find a girl. Bad idea. In this place, people only lose (not find).
[scene change]
Young man: I've been searching for you for so long. Where have you been these past two years?!
Male voice: We've known each other since childhood, and yet you always push me away.
[guy yelling "I love you", with text reading "the whole world at your feet"]
[childhood flashback]
Little girl: If I am the queen, does that mean everyone else is my subject?
Little boy: Everyone.
Little girl: Everyone, everyone?
Little boy: Everyone, everyone. And the whole world will be at her feet [talking about the queen].
Male voice: I will not give you up.
Female voice: A completely different life began for me. And there was no room in it for love.
Man: You have a very specific purpose. Take aim, pull the trigger, and... don't ask unnecessary questions.
[scene change]
Man: Why did you do it?
Male voice: Why him again?
Man: A wolf in love is no longer a predator.
[scene change]
Man: I will show you what a Kazakh is like, you dog. ((not sure about this line, couldn't hear clearly))
Male voice: Please understand. Freedom and love have more value than money.

H/T: City On Fire