Sion Sono's SHINJUKU SWAN Gets A Teaser!

Director Sion Sono has had some good fortune since becoming a hit late last year with his most recent live-action hip-hopera manga hit, Tokyo Tribe. He's since gone on to direct his latest mature adult gangster adaptation, Shinjuku Swan『新宿スワン』which is currently gearing up for a theatrical release in Japan this May courtesy of Sony, and we now have a teaser that lends an eye to what we can expect, which no doubt includes some heartfelt drama and plenty of beatings and screaming to go around.

SYNOPSIS:

Set in Kabukicho, which is an entertainment and red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Shiratori Tatsuhiko doesn't have money or a job. One day, he meets a scout named Mako who recruits girls on the streets to work in the adult entertainment business. Mako likes Tatsuhiko and introduces Tatsuhiko to the world where he works. Tatsuhiko soon works as a scout too.

Actress Sawajiri Erika and actors Iseya Yusuke, Ayano Go and Yamada Takayuki star. Watch the teaser featuring the awesome theme, "Dive" by alternative j-rock band, Man With A Mission.

H/T: Orends Range

Matt Hannon Returns In SAMURAI COP 2: DEADLY VENGEANCE. Watch The New Teaser!

It was at some point in the past few years that actor Matt Hannon, thought to have been dead more than two decades after his starring role in Amir Shervan's 1991 cult hack and slash flick, Samurai Cop, had to proclaim himself once again to the living. And it certainly lended some noteworthy achievement to the notion that there are people who would have wanted a sequel to the first film despite having been buried in history long before being brought back to life on restored DVD through Cinema Epoch.

Since then, sequel efforts went underway following a kickstarter push last year with Gregory Hatanaka now set to produce and direct with co-star Mark Frazier also returning. Alas, it is a new year and post production is underway just in time for a fresh new teaser to reinvigorate fans who have come to appreciate one of the best/worst films of the past several decades. Yes, the saga continues in Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance! And yes, he's got a katana... which is Japanese for "sword".

SYNOPSIS:

It's 25 years later, and Detective Frank Washington is forced to team up with his long estranged partner Joe Marshall to solve a series of assassinations being committed by a secret group of female vigilante killers.

Indie Non-Profit Actioner, SWORDS OF INSURGENCY Launches A New Trailer!

Director Michael Neal's latest indie feature-length webseries presents a something that could bode well for YA audiences that don't mind something a little different compared to its Hollywood counterparts. Swords Of Insurgency is the name of the project, set in a post-apocalyptic world where the remainder of mankind lives mostly in the dark ages and thrives primarily on one's own fighting skills to survive.

The project began roughly a few years ago with funding through tax-deductible donations to the non-profit art services group, Fractured Atlas, and while this isn't a new concept as there have been plenty of variations of it in prior works, this certainly garners my interest with its current setting and cast. The trailer just released and shows some pretty good cinematography and nicely done action with Rebecca Hausman and Jarod Kearney starring.

There's no dated release just yet, but there's a website to follow if it suits your interests. Watch the trailer just beneath!

SYNOPSIS:

Swords Of Insurgency is an action martial arts short film based in an apocalyptic setting. It is a non-profit project. 

Decades have passed after the great apocalypse and the world has become savage more reminiscent of the dark ages than modern times. Most of the world's firearms have been destroyed and hidden and hand to hand warfare has returned as the dominant form of fighting.

Swords of Insurgency Trailer from Omar juarez on Vimeo.

JCVD Pounds Away In The New Unofficial Teaser For POUND OF FLESH

Well, if there's one thing we can all look forward to in 2015, it's another awesome action movie, and for fans of leading man Jean-Claude Van Damme, that very day will come upon the release of his third stint with 6 Bullets and Assassination Games helmer, director Ernie Barbarash in the new thriller, Pound Of Flesh. This time, Van Damme is taking no prisoners as an ex-military man, waking up one morning in a bloody ice bath with a missing kidney devoted to his dying niece, infiltrating China's seedy underbelly to retrive it before it is sold to the highest bidder.

Regular Donnie Yen cohort, fight coordinator and choreographer John Salvitti lends his own system of Salvitti Super Scraps methodology to the screenfighting foray with Bruce Law Stunts Unlimited designing the vehicular action, and we finally have some unofficial teaser footage that samples all this, with the biggest pay-off at the very end clearly showing our lead action star in his element. Of course, the film also lends a bittersweet farewell to late actor and martial arts star Darren Shahlavi who sadly passed away on January 14 this year at the age of 42, making Pound Of Flesh one of several final on-screen performances to come this year in addition to Van Damme's appearance in Kickboxer: Vengeance later this year.

Kirk Shaw and Henry Luk produced the film with Jason Tobin, Andrew Ng, and veteran actor Aki Aleong rounding out the main cast. Check it all out below!

The New Pre-Game Teaser For INSURGENT Is Here

As with every SuperBowl Sunday, this weekend is going to be a big opportunity for trailers to make their way for an audience. Director Robert Schwentke's The Divergent Series: Insurgent is one of those films now currently amidst an epic campaign laden with an array of standard and animated posters and portraits hosting much of the film's sprawling cast led by returning actress Shailene Woodley and actor Theo James.

The film is releasing on March 20 as the second of a 3.4 part saga based on acclaimed author Veronica Roth, continuing the story of Tris, a young girl who finds herself at the center of a deadly conspiracy that makes her a threat to the theocracy that segments citizens in a ritualistically-split five-faction society. Last year's Divergent from director Neil Burger, has already set the course of events for what's to come in the sequel, so check it out now at home wherever movies are sold before the second chapter arrives, because if the new SuperBowl pre-game TV spot is any indication, things are about to get way crazier!

JOHN WICK Duo, Stahelski And Leitch To Direct COWBOY NINJA VIKING For Universal

2014 was an immensely great year for actor Chris Pratt, and things are about to get even better. The actor is currently on par as a person of interest to reprise the role of Indiana Jones for a new feature film on top of returning to portray his winning role in director James Gunn's forthcoming Marvel sequel, Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 and possibly getting a starring role in The Magnificent Seven remake alongside The Equalizer duo, helmer Anton Fuqua and actor Denzel Washington.

In addition, Pratt's latest attachment came as of November last year for the lead role in the upcoming graphic novel adaptation, Cowboy Ninja Viking. Based on a 2009 publication from Image Comics via Shadowline, the film now aims to brings Pratt center stage in the role of Duncan, the product of a government program that transforms people with multiple personality disorders into highly trained agents known as "Triplets", whereas he is now forced to hunt down others like himself using his unique skillset highlit by his three distinct personalities: a cowboy, a ninja, and a viking.

The source material here draws some immense appeal as Pratt has proven to be an actor worthy of taking on several dimensions on screen, so a role like this definitely suits him, and he's more than likely on board. But what makes for an even better prospect is the fact that Universal Pictures is officially bringing action duo Chad Stathelski and David Leitch on board to direct. Stahelski and Leitch, both respected stunt coordinators and trainers, and founders of their own stunt training facility, 87Eleven Action Design in California, blew the lid off the film festival scene last year with their partnering directorial debut, John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves. The three are expected to partner again for Reeves's forthcoming series, Rain, and updates are still pending, but rest assured, Universal Pictures has itself a mighty strong team on its hands.

Pratt will be back on the big screen this summer for Jurassic World on June 12, while John Wick is now available wherever movies are sold.

H/T: Variety

Arnie Sees Red In The New Poster For TERMINATOR: GENISYS

More than three decades after launching a cult phenomenon to the world of sci-fi forever, the Terminator franchise is rebooting this summer for the first of a fresh new trilogy, Terminator: Genisys. The film featuring a brand new slate of actors filling in key roles from the previous films, with Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney starring alongside actor Arnold Schwarzenegger whose presence aims to further validates the new trilogy. Check out the new poster!

Granted, it's likely not an easy task to achieve, but Paramount and Skydance are aiming at great lengths to help make this one work in the face of critics and moviegoers who might not be uneasy about the reboot. As always though, there's plenty of potential here and particularly with the technology at hand in bringing sci-fi auteur James Cameron's futuristic brainchild to life once more. So, if it garners your interests, mark the date for July 1, 2015. In the meantime, check out the fresh new poster and pre-game teaser ahead of this weekend's SuperBowl.

Jason Statham Talks WILD CARD In A New Featurette

WILD CARD poster (UK)

Fans of cinematic badass, actor and action star Jason Statham will find themselves in good company this year with the forthcoming release of Spy and Furious 7 this Summer and Spring. However, his first step back on the big screen will arrive shortly in the U.S. with the revisit to a Burt Renyolds cult classic, now in the form of Wild Card which sees our hero, a gambling addict deep in the thick of the Las Vegas criminal underbelly and desperate to fight his way while out forced to deal with an array of thugs just waiting to be tossed about!

It's a promising act for Statham who has already proven quite well that he can stand on his own with recent critical hits like Parker (2013) and Homefront (2014), so hopefully you'll have your weekend planned to go and support the film as so deserved. If you missed the official trailer, you can watch it below, just beneath a small interview featurette with Statham in the chair.

Catch The New Teaser Poster For Upcoming Bond Action Short, SAPPHIRE

There aren't a lot of James Bond-inspired fan shorts available online that I know of, and believe me, I'll start looking. However, leave it to filmmaker Colin Emerson to tap into the fanbase now currently writhing in anticipation for the 24th feature film in the franchise, Spectre since its announcement at the top of the year. He's got a new short coming out between now and next week titled Sapphire, and its got the coolest teaser poster in the world right now...so cool I couldn't NOT write about it.

Filmed in one day last month with a zero-budget, Sapphire serves mainly as a conceptual action short, largely inspired by the possibility of casting anyone other than a white guy for the lead, a conversation sparked by Sony when it was finally revealed that actor Idris Elba was once a potential contender for the role. That said, the man you see in the poster, actor, stuntman and fight choreographer, Jean-Paul Ly is certainly gaining some momentum nowadays with credits like Lucy, 24: Live Another Day and Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist and much more, in addition to a few other shortfilms along the way as he readies the launch of his own channel to load good and plenty with action-packed gems to come. So, what better way to continue that rising potential than being an Asian MI-6 agent? Right? No complaints.

Sapphire comes out this week and will also be included on Monday's Hit List. Stay tuned.

TURBO KID Powers Up In The Newest Teaser!

Just heading into the last leg of its current run at Sundance is the much-hyped BMX-charged fantasy thrill-ride from Canada-New Zealand film collective, R.K.S.S., Turbo Kid. A few clips have already made their way online but we now have an official teaser as of a few days ago, and it's every bit of nostalgic fun you could probably imagine.

SYNOPSIS:

It's 1997. In a ruined post-apocalyptic world, the orphaned Kid survives on his own through drought-ridden nuclear winter, traversing the Wasteland on his BMX, scavenging for scraps to trade for a scant supply of water. When his perpetually chipper, pink-haired new best friend Apple is kidnapped by a minion of evil overlord Zeus, the Kid summons the courage of his comic book hero and prepares to deliver turbocharged justice to Zeus, his buzzsaw-handed sidekick Skeletron, and their vicious masked army. 

Bolstered by a pitch-perfect synth score, and clever and cheeky period details, co-directors François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell create a raucous retro-futuristic action comedy that pays homage to '80s movies great and small, while adding their own flair with inventive and exuberant violence and gore (prepare for disemboweling by exercycle). Sci-fi legend Michael Ironside delivers with malevolence and glee as the larger-than-life Zeus, a despicable villain with joie de vivre.

Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf and Michael Ironside star. Watch the teaser below courtesy of the film's current North American distributor, Epic Pictures Group.

Bring The Glow To Your City For The 30th Anniversary Of Berry Gordy's THE LAST DRAGON

Cult martial arts film star Taimak Guarriello is still in touch with his fanbase decades after gaining the spotlight with the Berry Gordy-produced 1985 neon-laden fantasy action kung fu classic, The Last Dragon. The film is still subject to massive expo and comic-con appeal with a surge in energy that still draws crowds to this day, even at its roots in New York City where the actor has appeared among other favorites stars at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo, and now, the movement continues to bring the glow to your city.

A new contest is now underway and the first city to sell 300 tickets (or reach the goal of $12,000) will be chosen to get a star-studded screening of its own with photo-ops with Taimak and much more. The contest will end on March 2, 2015, just three weeks before the celebration commemorating the 30th anniversary of the film on March 21, 2015, so CLICK HERE to check out the contest and see if you can bring the glow to your city!

Arnold Schwarzenegger To Be Inducted As A WWE Hall Of Famer This March

Do you love Arnold Schwarzenegger? Well, apparently so does the WWE, because he's getting a place in history as a WWE Hall Of Famer in a couple of months! The company made it official just a few days ago in the following announcement, so this is probably a great year for you if you're a fan of wrestling.

It's probably not much surprise to a few seeing as how the actor and former Governer of California made his career through bodybuilding which ultimately led to a spectacular career in film. He's been the epitome of cinematic badassery for well over thirty years with films like Commando, Total Recall, True Lies and most notably, the Terminator saga which is now gearing up for a summer reboot this July with reshoots now underway. And it's exactly the kind of example later echoed in his cameo appearance in the 2003 jungle romp, The Rundown as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's acting career was taking off.

The rest, of course, is history. And with a legacy that speaks for itself, I'm pretty sure Schwarzenegger himself doesn't mind.

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WWE announced today that pop-culture icon Arnold Schwarzenegger will be inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held on Saturday, March 28 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA as part of WrestleMania® Week. 

Former Governor of California from 2003-2011 and the star of such blockbuster films as Predator, True Lies, Kindergarten Cop and the wildly successful Terminator franchise, Schwarzenegger is a longtime WWE fan dating back to the 1970s, appearing at many Monday Night Raw® and SmackDown® events through the years. A seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, he is the founder of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival, the world’s largest annual sports weekend, which hosts 200,000 attendees and more than 18,000 of the world's top athletes. He also appeared at the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony at Madison Square Garden, inducting his friend Bruno Sammartino. Most recently, Schwarzenegger guest starred on the March 24, 2014 episode of Monday Night Raw opposite WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan® and WWE Superstar The Miz®. Schwarzenegger's decades-long health and fitness crusade is a perfect fit with WWE. 

“We are honored to induct Arnold Schwarzenegger into the WWE Hall of Fame,” said WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “His larger-than-life on- and off-screen presence translated perfectly into the world of WWE, resulting in many memorable moments.” 

Tickets for the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at SAP Center are currently available through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees. 

WrestleMania 31 takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA Sunday, March 29 at 7pm ET live on WWE Network and pay-per-view.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN BERLIN: German Martial Arts Film Group, Reel Deal Action, Sets Their 2015 Feature Debut

At any other point in time before the new millennium, you may have been right in simply assuming that the martial arts action genre wouldn't have had much fervor with the internet. Of course, time proved quite the opposite with a vast number of independent groups sprouting online for a community that has evidently gone global. Germany, for one, has surely seen its share of that effect with its own native talents, namely folks like Can Aydin, Phong Giang and award-winning stunt performer Cha-Lee Yoon - just three of the principle stuntmen combining years of experience to form their own team, Reel Deal Action, as of just several years ago.

Since then, they've continually left a memorable mark in the world of independent action, most recently winning Fight Of The Year over at Martial Arts Movie Junkie for their 2013 hit, The Messenger, prior to going global with their latest award-winning film festival short favorite, Evil Twin, which is now on its way to Tally Shorts in Florida and Jaipur International Film Festival in India this February. This, coupled with their recent successes in the stunt industry with credits like Arena Of The Street Fighter (2011), the 23rd Bond film - Skyfall (2012) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Parts 1 and 2, as well as the Samuel L. Jackson starrer, Big Game this March, and the upcoming summer reboot releases of Point Break and Agent 47 have inarguably put Reel Deal Action on the map for certain viability as a self-sustaining team suitable and worthy enough for their own feature-length film. Alas, with the forthcoming German martial arts action comedy, Once Upon A Time In Berlin, they're doing exactly that.

Currently under the working title, 4 Gewinnt (Connect 4), Once Upon A Time In Berlin is the feature-length debut collaboration between Reel Deal Action and VFX studio, CineChromatix following their prior get-together on Evil Twin and The Messenger. Visual effects artist and editor, CineChromatix founder Ufuk Genc and composer Michael Popescu are directing the film from a story and script by Reel Deal Action, Popescu and key screenwriter Rafael Garciolo which centers on a group of four best friends hustling for stunt jobs in Berlin who accidentally stumble upon the wrong address for an audition, only to have one of their own held hostage by a shady crimeboss who sends the remaining three on a harrowing race against time to collect four coordinates throughout the city leading to a safe and its incriminating contents.

Currently rounding out the cast are non-team member, actor and co-star Eugene Boateng and actress and stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker following her most recent kick ass role with sister Renae Moneymaker in their 2014 short collaboration with 87Eleven, Behind Every Great Man. As per their M.O., Reel Deal Action designed their own sequences with Aydin serving as action director, and are also producing the film which is currently in post-production with further casting details, a release date and other specifics pending. A teaser could arrive as soon as next month although that is subject to change, so your best bet is to keep your eyes peeled and subscribe to the official Facebook page for Reel Deal Action for further news!

[UPDATED] Is Alain Moussi Joining Marvel/Netflix As IRON FIST?

UPDATE (1/28/15): It seems Moussi removed his Facebook post within the last several hours since the original article was published, and reposted a few more times later stating he was not in the running to play the character. We'll keep you posted.

In the wake of the current production of Kickboxer, you may have been wondering exactly what lies next for its debut lead actor, Alain Moussi. Well, we may already have an answer for that with the latest update now drawing some pretty tasty speculation relative to what is now happening for Marvel's currently brewing extension of their cinematic universe through Netflix, and if you're a kung fu fan, you definitely have reason to be excited.

Post by Alain Moussi.

Iron Fist first appeared in the comics back in 1974 from creative duo Roy Thomas and Gil Kane with the story of Danny Rand, a young boy who acquires his extraordinary kung fu skills during his intensive training in the mystical city of K'un L'un and uses them to fight crime upon discovering his true destiny in a long-line of martial artists with his skills. The character was also once a contender for a potential feature film back in 2000 with Marvel and Artisan Entertainment courting Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace and Ballistic: Ecks VS Sever co-star Ray Park to lead with Kirk Wong directing. The project eventually withered away in the following decade before Marvel hired Rich Wilkes to provide a script for a feature film once more, which, of course, was long before Marvel hit the reset button with Netflix back in 2014.

While neither group have officially confirmed the plot for the new Iron Fist series, all roads currently point to a potential storyline involving the Heroes For Hire arc with actor Mike Colter currently tapped to portray superhero Luke Cage for Netflix with expected appearances in Netflix's A.K.A. Jessica Jones for a 2016 premiere date. In the meantime, if there is anything worth taking away from Moussi's post above, it's the promise of watching the career of a rising martial arts action star now in full-bloom for a new generation of kung fu and comic book fans. Alas, official news is pending beyond this write-up, so stay tuned for more Iron Fist news ahead of further developments on Kickboxer!

MMA Action Drama, STREET, Is On The Way!

It'll be interesting to see how 2015 goes in the world of tournament thrillers. Post-production is underway for a new mixed martial arts drama now in the form of Street, which is hell of a title for an action flick of this kind. The film grants actor Beau Casper Smart his latest leading role, and considering a lot of his credits include dance features like Step Up 3D and Jon M. Chu's The LXD - The League Of Extraordinary Dancers webseries, it seems like something worth looking to for a role as athletic as this one.

Arnold Chon is the fight coordinator for this project and with a resume like his leading up to the current production of The Green Ghost in Texas with rising action stars Marko Zaror and Michelle Lee, I'm pretty psyched about how this one could look. There are already a handful of photos and posters that are available at the official Facebook page, but we finally have an official press release to denote the goods!

Beverly Hills, CA, January 26, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The film centers around a young man named Remo Street (played by Beau Casper Smart), a former wrestling champion who spends his days job searching and with great ingenuity forces himself to train at night whenever and however he can. It seems his life long dream of becoming a professional fighter just might elude him until one fateful night when destiny takes him an entirely new direction. 

While finishing one evening from a days job hunt this young man is forced to fight for his life when a chance encounter with a beautiful woman puts him in the corner of an up and coming champion, a Russian gangster and the seedy underworld of arson, gambling and bare knuckle boxing. His passion for fighting becomes a struggle to train a heartless champ and keep his family safe while he balances between the two worlds. 

As a MMA fight film produced by veteran producer Lyle Howry and Emmy award director Bradford May ,it will more than satisfy the hard-line fight fans. Choreographed by Arnold Chon, one of the industry’s most knowledgeable fight coordinators in on-screen MMA fights, every fight seen is action packed, believable, and delivers with a “punch.” That, coupled with Beau Casper Smart’s athleticism and acting performance, along with featuring some of MMA’s best fighters - past and present, such as: Frank Trigg, Emanuel Newton, Matt Mitrione, Uriah Hall, Jay Hieron, and one of WWE’s finest – John Hennigan (aka Johnny Nitro), makes Street destined to be on the top list of every fight enthusiast. Paralleling movies like Rocky and Rudy, Street is also an underdog film about second changes, redemption, faith, belief, and... never quitting. As such, the film is both heart-felt, motivational and inspiring.

A CASE FOR BETTER ACTION MOVIES: Tyrese For GREEN LANTERN? Yay or Nay?

Green Lantern? Ask me anything about movies other than this, because I know very little of the mythology behind the character off the top of my head. But, with the property now poised for a potential inclusion in Warner Bros.'s currently brewing DC movieverse between 2017 and 2020, actor and musician Tyrese Gibson is now fastracking his own campaign to claim the lead role.

The most recent live-action portrayal came from actor Ryan Renyolds in a 2011 adaptation that ultimately flopped, which is probably a good thing considering he should have already been filming Deadpool by then at least. Me? Well, I enjoy spectacle as much as anyone and I actually thought the studio would ultimately make its money back, so now that we already know that's not the case and a rebooted take on the role is imminent, perhaps Gibson has a shot, and you know what? I approve.

Gibson has plenty of momentum with the popularity he's gained from roles in blockbuster franchises in the Transformers and Fast And Furious franchises. Point in fact, the first film in which he caught my attention was helmer Vondie Curtis-Hall's 2006 crime thriller, Waist Deep, which was panned by some critics even though I enjoyed it myself; if anything, it helped introduce a new actor to pay attention to, and gladly, movie goers have taken notice.

To be frank, Gibson had me laughing during my viewing of Fast And Furious 6 in 2013, but in an assuredly good way; Nowadays, I largely find supporting comedy relief roles a thing to be weary of, because if I'm not laughing much amid the thrills, chances are I'll be as annoyed as I was while watching T.J. Miller failing in Transformers: Age Of Extinction (and for the record, that's not Miller's fault at all as it comes down to shitty, lazy writing). With Gibson though, it was very much the opposite, and aside from absolutely loving the Fast And Furious franchise, Gibson's acting as well as his caliber as a social media powerhouse make him a definitive contender for a lead superhero role.

So there I am, on the record. I approve and support Gibson's push to be the next Green Lantern, and I sincerely hope Warner Bros. heeds to this. No doubt that they'll certainly look into their own choices, although I ask humbly that they not only consider him, but also consider choosing him as well. Who knows? The right director, coupled with Gibson passion for the character could very well do for Green Lantern what Zack Snyder is very well about to do with his involvement on the DC movie slate.

We'll learn more in time and hopefully this picks up steam, but comment below and share your reactions if any. And by all means... mark your calendars for April 3, 2015 to catch Gibson in Furious 7 from Universal Pictures.

Graphics: BossLogic Inc.

Tom Hardy Is On The Hunt For A Killer In The New Trailer For CHILD 44

You won't see him as Rick Flagg in David Ayer's Suicide Squad film which is still casting, but librophiles and fans of actor Tom Hardy alike may find interest in what Safe House helmer Daniel Espinoza is offering in his newest thriller, Child 44. The film is set to arrive this April with Hardy reuniting with The Dark Knight Rises co-star Gary Oldman in an intense period drama based author Tom Rob Smith's 2008 U.K. book publication.

SYNOPSIS:

A politically-charged serial killer thriller set in 1953 Soviet Russia, "Child 44" chronicles the crisis of conscience for secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), who loses status, power and home when he refuses to denounce his own wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace), as a traitor. Exiled from Moscow to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with General Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys. Their quest for justice threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Leo’s psychopathic rival Vasil (Joel Kinnaman), who insists “There is no crime in Paradise.”

The latest trailer is out this week and you can check it out below.

Get A Look At Josh Trank's Rebooted FANT4STIC In The New Trailer

Well, in the weeks leading up to today's trailer for director Josh Trank's contribution to the Marvel movieverse rebooting Fantastic Four (or Fant4stic), plenty of blurbs and opinions have been tossed about online - some more cynical than most. But one thing is clear though: You have to admire the beauty in how material like this can be absorbed by someone with a different view of things, and right now, we're in an era where directors and studios are allowing themselves the advantage of taking films to generate different approaches. We see it all the time with the evolution of Batman and Superman on the big screen, and even our current topic at the moment which saw its first live-action approach back in an unofficially released Roger Corman production back in 1994.

Since then, the 2005 iteration drew some mixed reactions but did well enough for a sequel that included our first film appearance of the elusive Silver Surfer by way of actors Doug Jones and Lawrence Fishburne, which, in turn drew negative reviews but did well anyway; Not gonna lie, I enjoyed it and wondered if they would continue onto a third, but a remake seems nice enough to open a few minds for a new generation of comic book fans and movie goers however which way we choose. At any rate, Trank's previous effort in Chronicle was a pretty good one, and quite good enough to lend curiousity about how his vision would treat a live-action superhero movie. If a Fantastic Four reboot is the template, then by all means, go for it. The trailer is worth all the love it is getting this week, so check it out, and mark the date for August 7, 2015 to go see it. Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell and Toby Kebell star.

SYNOPSIS:

THE FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

THE HIT LIST: January 26, 2015

If at any point these Hit List articles become weekly events for you, whether it be by yourself or among friends, then I'm truly greatful. I find a lot of these things online, and it surprises me how many videos I come across that remain hidden from us for so long until we're lucky enough to catch on to them, and among this list, there are quite a few within the last few years that I felt were worth sharing given their relevance. So, let's get to it!...

Starting off is a new retrospective video from Lunar Stunts' own in-house action duo, Eric Nguyen and Irvin Nguyen as they look back at last year's highlights. Everything from Fair Game to Eat. Pray. Ninja. and even Rope-A-Dope 2 is included in this reel as the Nguyen bros look ahead to what the new year will hopefully bring.


2015 is looking pretty upworthy for independent filmmaker Charlie Dennis since successfully crowdfunding his latest new action project, Deep Pan Fury. It was late last year that we got a whiff of some of the action we'll be expecting from our cast, including U.K. actor and martial artist Laurent Plancel (a.k.a. Law Jhon) who now has a new action-packed stunt and fight reel to kick off the new year. Check it out below, along with three other spectactular new stunt reels from Elizabeth Carpenter, Jessi Fisher and Tyler Williams.





Short, sweet and to the point, the first of the next two pieces from independent filmmaker Shaun Charney include a new fight short with performances by PeiPei Alena Yuan and Sayaka Pereira. Again, it's pretty short with a silly endin courtesy of Charney's own comedic wit, but the video is quite stylish and worth taking a look at for the minute-and-a-half it plays.

The second is a solo weapons/form video featuring Charney following his previous video which you can check out by CLICKING HERE.



...Meanwhile, it's just another day at the office for the wrecking crew over at stunt training facility, Action Factory. Check out independent filmmaker and stuntman Rustic Bodomov's latest quick experiment behind the lens with principle performances by Kara Petersen, Peter Jang and Matthew Kennedy.


This next video comes from independent filmmaker Sean Dunlap and co-director, actor Andrew Dismuke whose latest shortfilm, Ment, centers on one man's battle to protect a powerful element that could heal the sick and wounded. The execution in the action is very rough around the edges from top to bottom, but the idea here is presentable, and even watchable with the choreography and a concept which suit a shortfilm like this quite nicely.


Here, we have a small sampler from a YouTube account hosting the latest trailers for Jimmy Henderson's latest offering to Cambodian moviegoers titled Hanuman: Year Of The Monkey. The film's prolific aim at showcasing the indigenous ancient style, Bokator stems from the hardworking team over at Bokator Sor Association from which the video below, uploaded last year, is shown on the front page of their official website. If it at all interests you, feel free to pay them a visit after you watch the action demo... or before, whichever suits you best.


Adding to his list of screenfighting eye candy is Jeff Centauri's latest little gem featuring Keanna Reyes opposite El Salamanca in Young Model Fights Back. Centauri is currently working on a Legend Of Korra fan short at the moment, along with a few other shortfilm projects releasing soon prior to his partake in at least two local feature films this year, so it's nice to see him still keeping warmed up behind the camera when he can. In the meantime, take a look at his latest just beneath.


Actor Jonathan Lee's participation with the folks over at Cinematic Fight Studio are proving quite beneficial since collaborating for indie filmmaker Anthony Pellino's upcoming fan-attributed short, Mortal Kombat: The One, wherein you'll likely find Lee donning the iconic black and blue ninja garb as Sub-Zero. This week, the studio has presented its latest fight scene package for fellow client, with Lee opposite working actor Louis Balletta in a scene where Balletta wanted to showcase a lesser-stylish formula of martial arts choreo. Leave it to in-house fight coordinator Lang Yip to design the action, and below is what we get!


It was quite a delightful surprise when I came across Malaysian filmmaker and stunt professional Ayez Shaukat Fonseca's YouTube channel. He's been up and coming in the field of stunts and action direction for some time now, and the most recent short film on his channel, Kejar, is a pretty good example of his progress. The end caption is a reflective moral following a short story of how a simple act of kindness can change things for the better; Indeed, there are no shortcuts in life, although this nice, simple little action short is a worthy exception.


This particular video seems to make the rounds often. It's a clip from a New Zealand satirical comedy series titled Auckland Daze which began its run in 2012 and centers on the lives of four hapless professionals trying to make it in the entertainment industry in some fashion. That said, check out the clip below featuring series co-star, actor and martial artist Glen Levy and guest star, actor Liam McIntyre (The Legend Of Hercules).


With the Naruto franchise still garnering mass appeal, it's easy to see why fans have become so creative and inspired in their own ways to tap into the fanbase through action and filmmaking. The most notable example so far has been Thousand Pounds Action Company's 2012 milestone hit, Naruto Shippuden: Dreamer's Fight, which evidently became a source of inspiration for independent filmmaker Brian Huynh over at Ohh Wow Films with Naruto Shippuden: Root that same year. It's worth a look now if you've haven't seen it yet, particularly in the wake of two forthcoming releases, one of them being the long-awaited Dreamer's Fight follow-up, Epic Rival's Naruto Shippuden: Dance Of War on Feburary 16, before the limited U.S. release of the animated feature, The Last: Naruto The Movie later that week.

And an awesome week it will be!



...And here as a nice little segway into the pre-viz department, with two freshly-released choreography videos in the players below. The first is a prep video for Epic Rival's Clandestine project series featuring key sequences that couldn't be included in the final product due to time and money restraints. The other is a blocking video attributed to the U.K. student-produced action short, Prime Contact which was successfully crowdfunded and filmed in the last two years. The short film eventually screened last Summer and Fall for two separate events at the University Of York, and there's currently no word on its release or even a trailer. Thankfully, the choreography team over at SG Action released some concept footage this week representing a principle fight scene in the third act.

As a noteworthy mention, I had the opportunity to screen it for myself last year, and it's a real solid piece of work with a very professional and large scale appeal. I sincerely hope to share it as soon as I hear more.



Sometimes I have a habit of catching up with myself. Having covered actor and martial artist, Wildchild Gil Sanabria from time to time, it's with great credit that his career continues to grow beyond contributing to Puerto Rico's first ever martial arts action film, El Testigo also starring lead actor Jose Manuel. The film went on to earn a flurry of nominations and runner-up acknowledgements at the Action On Film Festival in 2012, including two wins for best action sequence and best fight choreography, making it a good year for director Andres Ramirez and the folks behind this amazing film.

And to think, it all spawned from a 2009 action short. Check it out below, and also check out a teaser from last summer from another indie actioner from Manuel's own channel titled Driven To Kill.



Injuries are no joke, especially when it comes to parkour, but its always inspiring when these athletes are able to showcase their stories of recovery in such style. Alas, observe freerunners, stuntman Ronnie Shalvis as well as Sanabria in the players below, along with other freerunning and tricking reels featuring Nick Provost, Sérgio Bödtker-Lund, Albert Vallardares, tricker Vellu Saarela's sampler promoting a jam-packed tricking gathering in Finland this April, and the latest featurette for the new post-apocalyptic zombie game, Dying Light, with actor and parkour founder David Belle (Banlieue 13, Babylon A.D.) as main highlight.

Last but not at all least, healing continues a week since news of the passing of actor and action legend Darren Shahlavi earlier this month shook the world of martial arts cinema from its core. Efforts are now being made to help fundraise for a Hollywood memorial, as well traveling expenses and funeral arrangements for relatives as well as the body of the late actor between the U.S. and the U.K., and if you want to learn more in addition to the facts surrounding the news of his passing, CLICK HERE.

Shahalvi, 42, spawned a fruitful career from his roots as a Hong Kong stunt professional to an otherwise prolific action star with credits like Bloodmoon, 300, Mortal Kombat Legacy and Arrow, with upcoming appearances in several more projects along the way. Gladly, Shahlavi's fanbase has grown so much so that any number of searches will turn up with showreels featuring the late star in his element, and this week, you can check out a some of the legendary actor's highlights in an amazing promo reel from the humble folks over at Iron Dragon TV.


Subscribe to these channels right now and CLICK HERE if you missed any videos from last week. If you have a QUALITY shortfilm, reel or teaser/trailer of any kind you would like showcased on Film Combat Syndicate, send them to filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com!

THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS 2 Gets New DVD Artwork + Release Date

Regardless of whatever feelings you might have about actor, musician and filmmaker RZA's 2012 kung fu hip-hopera, The Man With The Iron Fists, the fact is it now has a sequel and as soon as this April, it's coming home on DVD and Blu-Ray. On that note, we finally have some artwork from the folks over at Universal for The Man With The Iron Fists 2 prior to the film's release, which you can check out just beneath.

SYNOPSIS:

Thaddeus (RZA) is back in this explosive action adventure inspired by kung fu classics. A reluctant villager joins forces with a mysterious outsider to fight off powerful evil forces, both earthly and otherworldly, in a 19th century Chinese mining town. When a stranger, Thaddeus, is found badly wounded near the village, miner Li Kung (Dustin Nguyen) and his wife Ah Ni (Eugenia Kang) offer him refuge. As he heals, he becomes entrenched in a conflict that pits the townsfolk against the evil Master Ho (Carl Ng), his nefarious Beetle Clan and the terrifying Lord Pi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). With Thaddeus at his side, the mild-mannered Kung transforms into a deadly warrior in this martial arts epic.

Michel De Ruyter helmer Roel Reine directs this time around while the film also brings back a few of the original film's memorable favorites, namely Grace Huang and Andrew Lin as the Yin/Yang twins who met their demise in the first film, so their addition to this film adds further interest to the intrigue. April 14, 2015 is the date, and you can now pre-order your copy at Amazon or wherever movies are sold. For reassurance, however, the trailer below should suffice.

H/T: City On Fire

Fox Poised To Bring X-MEN Back To Television

The past two years have been huge in the world of superhero entertainment in film and television with two cinematic universes on their way between two studios, particularly at Marvel with their current slate between now through 2019 while ABC and Netflix pave the way for shows like Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Daredevil, Iron Fist and the newly cast A.K.A. Jessica Jones which just added its newest supervillain with Doctor Who familiar David Tennant.

In addition, there have even been talks for at least year to develop the longstanding X-Men franchise for a return to the small screen following its successful animated Fox Kids series in the 90's, although this week, the studio is finally confirming the news with Fox Entertainment chairman Gary Newman speaking out on the matter. “It’s in negotiations,” he said. “We’re cautiously optimistic, we had a good meeting with them. That will not be on a fast track creatively. This is just the deal, now we have to find the creative.”

Reports also show that it is not likely that the show will air before 2016 or 2017, with word from The Hollywood Reporter (via Comingsoon.net) that 24 producers Evan Katz and Manny Coto are up to possibly develop the new series as showrunners with Patrick McKay and JD Payne will penning the pilot episode. Currently there aren't any hints or details as to just how the story for the series will play out. At the same time, director Bryan Singer is currently gearing up for production on next year's X-Men: Apocalypse with the studio also setting up a hopeful third Wolverine film under James Mangold's direction, so this one will surely be worth paying attention to should we get any clues leaning toward a 2018 date.

Stay tuned!

Innocence Is Lost In The New Trailer For Period Actioner, EMPIRE OF LUST

Award-winning South Korean director Ahn Sang-Hoon's latest period flick certainly bares its share of turmoil and action, and maybe even a little skin to befit its working title, Empire Of Lust (a.k.a. Age Of Innocence), which is set for release this March in South Korea. Actor Shin Ha-Kyun returns to the screen after his most recent stint as the mastermind in Choi Ho's holiday action romp, The Big Match, now donning 14th century royal garb in a story centered on a Joseon-era commander who falls in love with a female courtesan and does her bidding.

What could go wrong?

Answer? Well, pretty much anything when other people and their ambitions are involved. Alas; you have a story woven in love, lust, betrayal, greed and political upheaval, which is always a great formula for a film of this caliber. And to satisfy your curiosity, we now have a first teaser to present a brief look in Ahn's world of tumult and toxic royalty, armed to the teeth with arrows and bloodshed. Yes, this could get messy. Volcano High star Jang Hyuk, No Tears For The Dead co-star Kang Han-Na and actor Kang Ha-Neul round out the cast.

Watch it below!

Veronica Ngo Is Missing An Egg In The New Trailer For NGAY NAY NGAY NAY: THE LOST DRAGON

Director Cuong Ngo saw some good times late last year at the third annual Ha Noi International Film Festival where he screened his most recent female-centric actioner, Huong Ga (Rise). Nowadays though, he's taking on a much different tone with actress Veronica Ngo now stepping into a pair of producer shoes for her latest role in the fantasy rom-com adventure, Ngay Nay Ngay Nay: The Lost Dragon.

Ngo is joined by actress Le Khanh in a story centered on two women from a far away planet who arrive on Earth and are forced to blend in with the local circus while in search of a mystical lost egg and its contents before it falls in the hands of unrelenting evil. You can guess one is quite keen on sappy romance and comedy more than anything with loads of fluff and CGI to whet the visual appetite, so, aside from the high wire spectacle and fantasy flare, if you're coming in this expecting to see Ngo return to her favorable screenfighting fervor in films like Once Upon A Time In Vietnam (2013), or even earlier hits like The Rebel (2006) and Clash (2009) with the likels leading man of action Johnny Tri Nguyen, you might be disappointed.

At any rate, a full trailer is now online following its teaser back in December, and it's English-subbed, so feel free to absorb this anyway you see fit. Kids might enjoy it more, sooo...yeah. Take the kids. 

Go Behind The Scenes Of Vietnamese Tokusatsu Comedy, SIEU NHAN X

The Lady Assassin (2013) helmer Nguyễn Quang Dũng's newest foray into action now comes in the form of his latest film, Siêu Nhân X (Superman X). A teaser arrived earlier this month introducing lead actor Ngo Kien Huy in the title role in a story of a Nam, a weakling who stumbles upon a glowing object in a nearby river that grants him not just a more muscular physique, but a new set of abilities he's never had before.

From there, the story takes a life with our lead hero now going full Tokusatsu, and what ensues are some pretty balls-to-the-wall sequences with a good share of comedy and slapstick suitable for Vietnamese movie goers alike. The teaser itself presents some outstanding qualities that could make it a noteworthy spectacle for those interested, especially for the Tokusatsu community worldwide.

At any rate, the film is out in domestic cinemas on February 6, and in addition to the teaser earlier this month, we now have three lengthy behind-the-scenes videos. So, if you have an hour to spare, take a peep. No English-subs though, so consider yourself warned.

Watch The Teaser And Trailer For Khmer Martial Arts Vigilante Flick, HANUMAN: YEAR OF THE MONKEY

Cambodia is about to get a dose of hard-hitting vigilante action next month when Italian filmmaker Jimmy Henderson gets to release his latest contribution to martial arts action cinema in Hanuman: Year Of The Monkey. Henderson also Khmer-language actioner with Michael Hodgson which stars Dara Our and Sophakmith Ung with Savin Phillip as the elderly villain.

Incidentally, the film is also a grand opportunity for Henderson to introduce Cambodia's seldom-known ancient martial arts style of Bokator in the same fashion as a handful of contemporary martial arts actioners as of late. This, coupled with the applied vision seen in last year's teaser and official trailer makes Hanuman: Year Of The Monkey, look something truly worthwhile for fans to enjoy.

SYNOPSIS:

Twelve years after witnessing the murder of his father by the ruthless crime Lord Kim Veng and his gang, Vicheat comes back to Phnom Penh in search of revenge. Vicheat reunites with his brother Srong, who's now a hard working police man and has a wife and daughter. Srong tells Vicheat that he has been following Kim Veng's criminal activities for the all these years and the other criminals involved. Vicheat wearing a Hanuman mask starts his quest taking down Kim Veng gang members one by one. Until one day when Vicheat actions put in jeopardize the safety of his brother family and he's forced to decide between his personal bloodlust or saving his brother life. 

Watch the teaser and trailer below, and feel free to lend your support at the official Facebook page for the film.

H/T: Twitchfilm

Get Your Tickets Right Now For THE LAST: NARUTO THE MOVIE!

Author Kishimoto Masashi's popular Shueisha manga publication, Naruto, has seen some incredible successes since its release in 1997. Its continued successes on the big and small screen with two animated TV iterations from director Date Hayato, along with nine feature films and Kodada Akiko's forthcoming live-stage Spring musical in Japan certainly serve as good highlights, and as of last month, director Kobayashi Tsuneo has since added to the legacy with the tenth film titled The Last: Naruto The Movie, which will finally open its doors for select U.S. audiences on February 20, 2015., courtesy of Viz Media and Eleven Arts.

SYNOPSIS:

The moon is approaching dangerously close to Earth! Unless something is done, the moon will disintegrate, showering the earth with gigantic meteorites. As the clock ticks towards the end of the world, can Naruto save the Earth from this crisis?

An official theater listing can be found at the Eleven Arts webpage for the film, with other international releases soon to follow. Watch the trailer below and get your tickets!

SGT. KABUKIMAN L.A.P.D.: SING, DANCE, KILL Bows With Bloody Vengeance In The Latest Teaser

Back in its heyday, independent film producers Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz certainly found their niche through a memorable array of cult horror and comedy classics over at Troma Entertainment. For Pretend For Real Films's own Mike L. Taylor, one such character stands out in the form of the titular hero in the 1991 cult slapstick classic, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., a story centered on a hapless detective who gains the mystical powers of Kabuki to fight crime.

The character has since gone on to appear in other titles of the Tromaverse with a few spin-offs and other attempts falling short of production. Taylor, however, is adhering to his own inspiration with lead actor Tripp Pickell for a fashionable reboot that highlights a return to glory for the character now in the new film, Sgt. Kabukiman L.A.P.D.: Sing, Dance, Kill, even billing it as a cross between The Raid and Black Swan, which is saying a lot. Thankfully, a sweet teaser is available online to help skew uncertainty, so you be the judge.

SYNOPSIS:

An L.A.P.D. Sgt. goes undercover as a Kabuki performer to expose a human trafficking ring called the "White Devils", who are disguised as a famous international Kabuki troop. His cover is blown and his family is violently murdered in front of his eyes by his Kabuki Master. He is framed and left for dead but secretly escapes into the streets of downtown Los Angeles. 

Homeless and alone Sgt. Kabukiman forges a one-man vendetta on the "White Devils". His vengeance is enforced by a newly discovered talent for ancient "KABUKI MAGIC", which turns his dance moves into LETHAL DEATH BLOWS. He uses these powerful arts to carve a bloody but elegant path of revenge through the White Devils and deep into "WHITE HELL" (their urban compound of illegal prostitution, slavery, and drugs) in order to get to their corrupt but powerful Kabuki Master leader.  But will Kabukiman be able to survive the surprises and revelations he uncovers when the curtains rise on the final performance?

H/T: Twitchfilm

TURBO KID Gets A New Red-Band Clip

Falling short of its entry into the 2012 horror anthology, The ABC's Of Death, didnt prove to be an impediment at all for the folks over at Montreal-based film group, Road Kill Super Star. Their gore-filled 2011 post-apocalyptic short, T Is For Turbo, certainly had its appeal enough for the company to move forward with a feature film production late last year now in the form of Turbo Kid with ABC's Of Death producer Ant Timpson and Hobo With A Shotgun helmer Jason Eisener also producing.

SYNOPSIS:

In a post-apocalyptic parallel future of 1997, an orphaned teenager called The Kid (Munro Chambers) scavenges the Wasteland searching for relics from a better time - the 1980s. During one of his expeditions he meets Apple (Laurence Leboeuf), a mysterious girl with a rather large secret. As their relationship deepens, they accidentally run afoul of Zeus (Michael Ironside), the self-proclaimed leader of the Wasteland who now controls the world most precious commodity: fresh water. When Zeus' gang kidnaps Apple, The Kid joins forces with Frederick (Aaron Jeffrey), the laconic leader of the legendary Arm-Wrestling Clan. Armed with little more than blind faith and an ancient turbo-charged weapon, The Kid must fulfill his ultimate destiny: destroy Zeus, avenge his parents' death, and get the girl of his dreams.

IGN (via Twitchfilm) has a brand new clip from the film as it makes its way to the Sundance film festival before getting its initial release in Canada and the U.S. Edwin Wright and Romano Orzari also star.

Watch the clip below, and for good measure, check out the original shortfilm in the player just beneath with the old cast.

Well Go USA Releases THE PIRATES On DVD And Blu-Ray!

There's a reason why director Lee Seok-Hoon's 2014 action comedy, The Pirates, became one of the biggest and best selling theatrical blockbusters of South Korea last summer. Of course, that reason is left open to interpretation with its mixture of reviews, but the film is finally available on DVD and Blu-Ray wherever movies are sold, courtesy of our friends at Well Go USA.

SYNOPSIS:

On the eve of the founding of the Joseon Dynasty, an unprecedented robbery shocks the nation-in-waiting: a whale has swallowed the Emperor's Royal Seal, and a bounty placed on its retrieval. Now, every infamous gang of thieves, thugs, pirates, and government agents take to the seas, battling the elements, creatures of the deep, and each other to possess the mother of all rewards.

Kim Nam-Gil, Son Ye-Jin, Yoo Hae-Jin and Lee Kyeong-Yeong star. Watch the home release trailer below!

KUNG FU PANDA 3 Gets Co-Production Status Amid Studio Layoffs And Reduced Slate

It hasn't been a good week at DreamWorks Animation with their stocks hitting a 52-week low on Thursday, ultimately leading to a huge number of layoffs. This also forced the company to reduce its feature film release plan to only two a year, including the long-awaited threequel to the largely China-produced Kung Fu Panda frachise.

With actor Jack Black joined by an ensemble cast once more, the film is poised for a March 18, 2016 release following its pushback from December this year to avoid crossing sabers with J.J. Abrams's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Thankfully with the way things have been for the company, the film was finally granted co-production status which grants the filmmakers a larger share of box-office receipts as opposed to what it would have gotten as a foreign film, and will also bypass China's quota system (that won't be solved for another few years in case you're wondering).

The company included the title in its announcement yesterday along with other titles in the statement below.

GLENDALE, Calif., Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DreamWorks Animation (NASDAQ: DWA) is implementing a new strategic plan to restructure its core feature animation business to ensure the consistent and profitable delivery of the high quality films that audiences have come to expect from the studio.  Following a full review of the business, the company will focus its feature production from three films per year down to two, maximize its creative talent and resources, reduce costs, and drive profitability. 

Under the leadership of newly appointed Co-Presidents of Feature Animation Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria, the studio's core feature animation production will now focus on six specific movies for the next three years - one original film and one sequel each year - including Kung Fu Panda 3 (March 18, 2016), Trolls (Nov. 4, 2016), Boss Baby (Jan. 13, 2017), The Croods 2 (Dec. 22, 2017), Larrikins (Feb. 16, 2018) and How to Train Your Dragon 3 (June 29, 2018). Captain Underpants, which will be produced outside of the studio's pipeline at a significantly lower cost, is scheduled for release in 2017.  The company's 2015 release, Home, will premiere domestically on March 27. 

"The number one priority for DreamWorks Animation's core film business is to deliver consistent creative and financial success," said DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg.  "I am confident that this strategic plan will deliver great films, better box office results, and growing profitability across our complementary businesses." 

The overall reduction of DreamWorks Animation's feature production output will result in a loss of approximately 500 jobs across all locations and all divisions of the studio. DreamWorks expects to incur a pre-tax charge of approximately $290 million in connection with the restructuring and related items.  These costs are expected to be incurred primarily in the quarter ended December 31, 2014, with the remainder in 2015 and 2016.  The plan will result in total cash payments of approximately $110 million incurred primarily in 2015.  The restructuring plan is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2015 and expected to result in annualized pre-tax cost savings of approximately $30 million in 2015, growing to roughly $60 million by 2017.