eOne is poised to release action star Jean-Claude Van Damme's latest action thriller, Pound Of Flesh in the U.S. this May while other territories currently await dates from their respective distributors. In the meantime, while it will be a few months before the film arrives so we can expect some more promotional gems to roll out between now and then.
That means, among other things, featurettes! And with specific thanks to the wandering eyes over at the Expendables Premiere fansite, there's a new ten-minute behind-the-scenes video now online for those curious to check out below. In it, you get smores of feedback and action-packed footage including Van Damme himself, who leads the film as a former black-ops agent on the hunt for the criminal network responsible for the heinous theft of his kidney in China with the life of his niece on the line.
You also get to hear from co-stars John Ralston, Aki Aleong, actress Charlotte Peters and martial arts action cinema legend, late actor Darren Shahlavi, as well as learn more about a few of the characters and their respective motives as well as the design of the fights with a look at Hong Kong cinema veteran fight choreographer and stunt coordinator, John Salvitti.
It's funny how the smallest of details can mean the biggest of changes in the course of events. The latest online craze over Bootleg Universe's deboot short, Power/Rangers has been the biggest example of this as of four days ago, unleashing the biggest, darkest, most visually stunning and violent take on the 90's childrens' Ameritoku series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, just four days ago, followed by litigatory threats from billonaire media magnet and franchise owner Haim Saban and Saban Brands which ultimately led to its disabling on Vimeo and YouTube over a day later.
Of course, the initial Vimeo upload on the channel shortfilm's director, Detention and Torque helmer Joseph Kahn was already downloadable with a disclaimer stating that the project, produced by Dredd producer, Bootleg Universe's own Adi Shankar was merely a freebie one-shot for the fans. Despite this, the near-immediate popularity and virility of the short became the biggest and likely the most divisive issue between fans familiar with the American crossover series; It's slick, glossy sci-fi appeal incorporated with its dark, gritty, gory and tragic tone embodied the very reasons why fans alike (including several of the show's original cast members) either loved it, hated it, or shared professional opinions mixed from both ends. Nevertheless, what ensued was almost troubling for Shankar and Kahn who felt that Saban's legal response just a few days actions were a signature stamp on the gloomy nature of how fandom gets observed by any content creator online.
With this, however, comes some good news via Deadline that Shankar and Kahn were able to reach a deal with Saban in a settlement that now allows Power/Rangers, in both its NSFW and SFW versions, to remain online. Both versions now have more legally-termed disclaimers as well as age restrictions so as to further set the boundaries between what Power/Rangers is, and the children's show is aimed at when online users of all ages search for something on the web. “They put these disclaimers on so kids so don’t confuse our super-violent film with their Power Rangers brand." Kahn told Deadline. "There are no hard feelings. We signed contracts. We can play it anywhere we want on all platforms. I think they realized that people just want to see it.”
Obviously, Power/Rangers is and always will be a one-shot pitch, and there shouldn't be a stranglehold on creativity to such levels where legal action is the result. But then again, there's a lesson to be learned here when it comes to filmmaking while adapting something to your own vision, even as a fan contribution, and that is to get the blessing of the copyright owners first and foremost and establish an amicable dialogue, lest you find yourself at the other, less-approving end of a copyright infringement lawsuit.
At any rate, Saban Brands is currently developing a theatrical feature film franchise as of last year with the help of Lionsgate. So, in lieu of this new short, the new report ought to extinguish the angst a bit more between both parties now that the lines are drawn and all is well.
It will be forty three years this July since the untimely death of martial arts legend and superstar Bruce Lee, the man whose short-lived career in film and television spawned a legacy that cultivated generations of martial arts sports and entertainment fans alike. Lee's life and legacy has always been an intriguing subject embraced through television and film via documentaries and fictional action packed dramas, and all these are subject to debate regarding whether or not how we all should feel about them.
That said, several more films have been in development for some time now, including actor and Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen's upcoming return to the fray as Lee's Wing Chun Grandmaster in Ip Man 3D, and in a new movie titled Birth Of The Dragon with George Nolfi tapped to direct. Updates on either of these projects are still pending so its best not to hold out too long as these things always take time. As such, we can now add at least one more biopic to that list courtesy from the late legend's daughter herself, Shannon Lee.
Deadline reports the new film from Lee's own Bruce Lee Entertainment which launched in 2014, will joined by Grey Matter Productions's own Lawrence Grey and Ben Everard, and veteran producer Janet Yang to produce and self-finance the film in an effort to construct the definitive biographical film about Lee's late father. The film will aim its focus on many of the uncovered areas of her father's life that Lee feels has yet to be observed in order to obtain a complete understanding of Lee's philosophies and artistry.
The film is just one of several in-house projects that have been underway at BLE for sometime now, including a TV show based on Bruce Lee's original ideas with Fast & Furious 6 helmer Justin Lin, a reality show to be produced by Keanu Reeves and Stephen Hamel, and a slate of novels, comic books and a mobile game. There's no word yet on who will direct the new film although the production is seeking a world-class filmmaker to take the lead and spearhead this ambitious production to its full realization.
Not that there's anything wrong with one more Bruce Lee-releated movie in the works - the man principally catapulted the martial arts action genre into the phenomenon it has since been. So, it'll be refreshing to see what Lee's own daughter and her team does with this immersive new venture.
While fans await further updates on actor Mike Colter's plans as Luke Cage ahead of Netflix's future programming, gaming fans can finally catch him on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital HD in the upcoming release of Microsoft Studios's latest live-action treatment, Halo: Nightfall from director Sergio Mimica-Gezzan.
March 17 is the date of its release following its previous exclusive availability within the Halo Master Chief Collectionfor Xbox One users. The upcoming release according to Blu-Ray.com includes over 35 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage and up to 45 minutes of second story extras among other features, which should guarantee this one a solid own when it finally arrives in a few weeks.
SYNOPSIS:
Halo: Nightfall tells the personal story of Jameson Locke, a legendary manhunter and agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Earth s most powerful and secretive military branch. He and his team are investigating terrorist chatter on the distant colony world of Sedra, when they are caught in a horrific biological attack. Led by Locke, ONI agents are forced to coordinate with Randall Aiken, a local commander with a remarkable history and deep-rooted mistrust of ONI. As they unravel a plot that draws them to an ancient, hellish artifact, they will be forced to fight for their survival, question everything, and ultimately choose between their loyalties and their lives.
Check out the trailer and stay tuned for more info.
Director Furusawa Takeshi's latest contribution to the live-action fray of manga storytelling is set to arrive in Japan cinemas in just a few weeks in the form of the new film, Assassination Classroom. Taking the torch from author Matsui Yusei's original publication, the film centers on the story of a classroom of unruly high school students who are promised top dollar from the government should one of them kill their new teacher - a yellow alien octopus who destroys 70% of the moon and promises to destroy Earth unless his newfound pupils can kill him, only they come to appreciate him as the best teacher they've ever had.
Weird eh? Well, don't let the cheesy alien octopus smile and somewhat goofy CGI fool you. There's still some luster here and some delightful potential. If there's one thing I've come to appreciate about Japan is that for the most part, it takes its manga adaptations as seriously as America does for its comic book superhero flicks. And it shows in the final product, so by all means check out the full trailer from earlier this month and keep an eye out if it peaks your interest.
It was back in May of last year that actor Harrison Ford was tapped to return to the role of futuristic detective Rick Deckhard in the 1982 sci-fi action noir, Blade Runner. This week, with Alcon Entertainment now taking the reigns to help move the new film forward and long after all the hopes that Ford would return, the word from Deadline is that Ford is officially returning to the role with Prisoners helmer Denis Villeneuve is also now in talks to direct after just recently wrapping his own new crime pic, Sicaro.
Written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, the first film is set in November in the year 2019, with Ford in the role of semi-retired LAPD detective Rick Deckhard, who, in the course of being pulled back to duty as a "blade runner" to hunt down and "retire" rogue humanoid beings called "replicants" following a bloody mutiny that led to their illegality, finds himself protecting and falling in love with Rachael (Sean Young) a replicant who believes herself to be human. Villenueve's new film, should he be confirmed, will follow a new script written by Hampton and Peoples with co-scribe Michael Green, based on an idea by Fancher and the first film's director, Ridley Scott, who will now executive produce as of just several months ago.
The new script is exepected to take place several decades after the end of the first film, although there is no other word yet on whether or not the new film will be an original follow-up or be attributed to any of the three sequel novels written by K.W. Jeter between 1995 and 2000. Cameras are expected to begin rolling next summer while we await further info on who else will star.
Ford has also been in the headlines pertaining to other memorable roles he's been known for in movie history, including his hopeful return to the fray as Indiana Jones while other names such as Bradley Cooper and Chris Pratt have circulated. The actor is also expected to reappear back in the role of intergalactic adventurer Han Solo along with an ensemble cast of new and old faces in this December's release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
With Daredevil still set make its way to Netflix on April 10, the network officially rolled out brand new poster art in two versions this week, including an animated version. The series has been busy garnering a lot of buzz since debuting a gritty new teaser trailer earlier this month which offers quite the favorable imagery worthy of an action-packed show full of grit and darkness to whet the appetite.
Of course, in lieu of all things related to Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe with further respect to Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D and Agent Carter, where Daredevil lies is mostly unclear except if you follow comic book lore and have some ideas of your own. Nevertheless, Daredevil is setting up to become the next best thing to hit subscription video on demand and with four more shows in the works, falling asleep on this right now is not an option.
Meet Matt Murdock. Blinded as a boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt fights injustice by day as a respected lawyer and by night as the masked vigilante known as Daredevil in Hell's Kitchen, New York. He'll do anything to make his city a better place, but at what price?
Charlie Cox stars in the title opposite Vincent D'onofrio who plays Wilson Fisk (a.k.a. Kingpin). Check out the new poster versions below as well as the official trailer in case you missed it.
It's good to see director Marc Forster back in the chair for a new film. Of course, it helps to know he's a man who dabbles in multiple genres so as to appreciate him as an all-around filmmaker, and his latest project, All I See Is You, will certainly favor those who like a little bit of everything. The new film puts The Age Of Adeline star, actress Blake Lively back in front of the camera as a blind woman who regains much more than her eyesight.
Reading into the logline some, it feels more like a thriller than anything. At any rate, if you fancy it, peep the details below.
LOS ANGELES, CA (FEBRUARY 26, 2015) – SC International Pictures will independently finance and produce All I See Is You, an original screenplay written by Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace, World War Z) and Sean Conway (Ray Donovan) to be directed by Forster, it was announced by SC President Michael Selby. Blake Lively (The Town, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Savages) and Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Zero Dark Thirty) will star
SC International Pictures in association with LINK Entertainment and 2Dux2 will produce the film along with Marc Forster, Craig Baumgarten, Michael Selby and Jillian Kugler. Brian Wilkins, Ron Perlman and Renee Wolfe will executive produce.
All I See Is You is a unique and visually-driven psychological drama that tells the story of a blind woman (Blake Lively) and her husband (Jason Clarke) who upon restoration of her sight begins to discover previously unseen and disturbing details about themselves, their marriage and their lives. Set in exotic locations the story twists and turns in unexpected ways and will take you on a journey unlike any other.
“I could not think of a better journey than following Marc Forster’s vision to bring All I See Is You to screens throughout the world. I believe this film will redefine visual story telling. With a dream cast, an amazing Director, and a wonderful crew; I believe the final result will cause audiences to be as excited as I am about this project,” said Selby
Marc Forster had the following statement, "Blake is an amazing actress with a huge on screen presence who I know will bring enormous talent to the role and Jason is captivating, strong and fearless in his work. It is inspiring to me as a filmmaker to get the opportunity to work with the both of them."
Jason Clarke first gained attention for his performance in the Oscar-nominated Zero Dark Thirty. Last year, he appeared in the summer blockbuster, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. He'll next be seen starring as John Connor in this summer's Terminator: Genisys and in the real-life disaster thriller Everest. He is represented by Robert Stein Management and CAA.
Blake Lively made her acting debut in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and followed that up with powerful performances in The Town and Savages. Lively's upcoming film, The Age of Adaline, will be released this April. She is repped by WME, Management 360 and attorney Jeff Bernstein.
Nick Meyer of Sierra-Affinity is handling international sales with Roeg Sutherland at CAA handling domestic sales. Forster is repped by CAA, Management 360, and Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler.
Further updates are still pending as we await the 2015 release of the upcoming martial arts action comedy, Once Upon A Time In Berlin. Debut directors Ufuk Genç and Michael Popescu are spearheading the production as it looks to put Berlin on the map for the genre, thanks in large part to the longstanding efforts of German martial arts film and stunt troupe, Reel Deal Action, whose members, Can Aydin, Cha-Lee Yoon and Phong Giang will also be making their feature acting debuts to accompany their natural screenfighting caliber.
Germany itself has been brewing with potential for sometime now, and luckily, Reel Deal Action has become a byproduct of the very support that has taken them this far, from making wonderful online action shorts to stepping it up in feature-length territory. You can learn all about their credentials and happenings via their official website, although rest assured, Reel Deal Action has certified itself as a proven team worthy of the success in their ability to tell stories and achieve the type of quality action and filmmaking standards they aim to live up to.
As of last year, the production has been looking to spread the word via Reel Deal Action's official Facebook page, and Film Combat Syndicate recently unveiled its first exclusive report back in late January. Following that report, Film Combat Syndicate can now unveil ten official - and by all means, AWESOME - new stills from the forthcoming movie courtesy of the production which you can check out below, as well as an official synopsis.
Check them out below!
SYNOPSIS:
Can, Phong and Cha-lee might be ambitious stuntmen, but their career has long since hit rock bottom. However, it’s when their friend and wannabe manager U-Gin reels in a promising new job offer that things truly go south. When they arrive at the wrong address the four friends burst in on low-life Eddie and his sleazy gang of thugs. Seizing the opportunity, Eddie takes Phong hostage and blackmails the remaining three into running a dangerous errand. Their mission: To seek the whereabouts of a secret safe owned by Berlin’s underworld kingpin Gabriel and to deliver Eddie its contents. The terms: They either succeed within 24 hours – or Phong dies. Chickening out is not an option, and so the three friends tumble head over heels into a relentless scavenger hunt, attracting the attention of a tenacious cop and, ultimately, of Gabriel himself.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN BERLIN is a fast-paced action comedy that pays homage to the action flicks of the 1980s and 1990s. Featuring action choreography by martial artists Can Aydin, Phong Giang and Cha-lee Yoon from REEL DEAL, it’s the first theatrical martial arts motion picture ever to be domestically produced in Berlin, Germany’s vibrant capital.
It's also worth mentioning that there's a bit of a twist going on with the costumes of our lead characters with respect to the following plot. See if you can figure it out for yourselves, and in the meantime, stay tuned for more exciting info on this amazing new project.
Aydin, Giang and Yoon are joined by actor U-Gin Boateng, along with Inglorious Basterds co-star Gedeon Burkhard, Iron Sky co-star and actress Julia Dietze and actress and stuntwoman, 87Eleven Action Design's own Heidi Moneymaker(The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sucker Punch). Once Upon A Time In Berlin is a production of CineChromatix, Paper Moon Films and Reel Deal Action. Genç is also producing with Oliver Thau from a script by Rafael Garciolo.
Updates on the production on Sam Mendes's forthcoming new movie fron Sony Pictures, Spectre continues and several set pics have already begun making the rounds, including the very set photo above from earlier this month. Actor Daniel Craig reprises his role for the forth time with set of new faces taking the place of the franchise's classic characters, including the respective iterations of Moneypenny, M and Q by actress Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Wishaw.
The highlight of the film's title mainly draws closer to a plot that may be familar in some capacity with the 1961 and 1962 Bond franchise films, Thunderball and Dr. No;The plot itself is not yet known as filming continues, although we now have a new set video from Mendes offering just a small glimpse of his own insight regarding the story and where our title hero is in his evolution. The film comes out November 6, 2015 and although the production did hit a few indirect snags, hopefully this latest induction into Bond movie history will prove just as memorable and spectacular as 2012's Skyfall.
Watch the video below and if you missed the earlier behind-the-scenes video, you can catch that one just beneath.
When you're a crooked cop treading both sides of the law, you can only get so far before tipping over on the wrong end - Such is the world of two detectives now caught up in their own criminal conspiracy layered with intrigue, mystery and danger in the new crime thriller, Dirty from director Daniel Ringey.
Actors Paul Elia and Roger Guenveur Smith take the lead of this dark and gritty tale of ultimate misbehavior behind the badge with a script by Benjamin J. Alexander. It touches the genre with a slightly sensitive subject matter that isn't always easy to absorb considering recent headlines and the overall relevance of the history, although the entertainment value here is certainly rewarding, particularly with Smith back on the screen for those who've been around since the 80's and 90's; He's always been proven to deliver some intense performances of his own with roles big or small, and his latest in Dirty looks to be another one of his finest yet.
SYNOPSIS:
Narcotics detectives Berg and Jackson are two of the dirtiest cops around and they spend most of their free time robbing the drug dealers they are paid to lock up. As a matter of fact business has been so good over the past few years these civil servants have accumulated quite the nestegg of stolen drugs and money. All seems to be going according to plan for these two partners until a strange case call leads them to discover their two and a half million dollars worth of stockpiled Dirty money has vanished into thin air.
Now, driven by greed and amidst a strangle hold, all points internal investigation regarding police corruption, the men tear through gangbangers, drug dealers, angry bookies, and even one very eccentric junkie hoarder leaving a trail of criminal oddities in their wake as the stolen money continues to elude them. All the while attempting to avoid “Captain Scott” Internal Affairs’ new top watchdog, who has conveniently and suspiciously set up shop with in their unit.
Running out of time and leads, the two men soon begin to find that they have yet to even scratch the surface of how weird this case is going to get. As the body count rises, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues culminating in one final shocking twist and the return of one more “DIRTY" LITTLE SECRET” which may ultimately be their down fall.
Indeed, if intense cop drama is more your speed, Dirty should serve your needs well when it arrives this year. Rouding out the cast are Adrian Gaeta, Chaz Bono, Kristin Minter, Jason Stuart, Gary Anthony Sturgis, Shane Warren Jones, Tony Denison and Alexandra Paul.
This may have been in the works before today, but now Sony Pictures is finally making is official with an announcement of their two-year first-look deal with Immersive Pictures. Their announcement includes a handful of meaty productions now in development with many of these titles having picked up steam in recent weeks, and several periodicals online have already reported them, so the details shouldn't be too hard to look up if one or more of these peaks your interest.
CULVER CITY, Calif., Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Entertainment has entered into a two-year, first-look deal with Josh Bratman's Immersive Pictures, it was announced today by Michael De Luca and Hannah Minghella, presidents of Production for Columbia Pictures.
In the deal, Bratman is developing and will produce a number of films for the studio, including:
The Harlem Hellfighters, based on the bestselling graphic novel by Max Brooks (the author of World War Z), with Overbrook Entertainment;
The Black Count, based on Tom Reiss' bestselling biography of General Alex Dumas, the father of Alexandre Dumas, the author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, with John Legend's Get Lifted Productions and Cary Fukunaga attached to adapt and direct;
The Sculptor, based on Scott McCloud's graphic novel, which Bratman will produce with Scott Rudin;
The Themis Files, an upcoming epic sci-fi debut novel by Sylvain Neuvel, which David Koepp will adapt and on which Bratman will team with Matt Tolmach Productions;
and Descender, based on Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's upcoming graphic novel.
Before founding Immersive Pictures, Bratman worked as an executive for Sony Pictures-based Michael De Luca Productions for over a decade. There, he oversaw and executive produced various projects for De Luca, who is now president of Production for the studio.
"Josh has been an important part of the Sony Pictures family for many years. This deal just cements that fact," said De Luca and Minghella. "He's an incredibly skilled producer, capable of the best work on many different kinds of films. We're thrilled that we'll be keeping him in-house as he continues to work on some of our most important development projects."
Bratman's deal was handled by CAA and by attorney Greg Slewett of Bloom Hergott.
It's been close to fourteen years since Paramount Pictures introduced the filmgoing world to a live-action iteration of Lara Croft a la actress Angelina Jolie based on Square Enix's popular Tomb Raider game franchise. The film did well for itself while its sequel didn't perform equally at the box-office and that's so far been the history of the franchise until 2011 when GK Films's own, producer Graham King acquired the rights with MGM announcing their partneship for a theatrical reboot.
This week, the film is reportedly on the fast track according to Deadline so we could be hearing some pretty cool casting news soon enough. In the meantime, Snow White And The Huntsman, Divergent and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles scribe Evan Daugherty has been tapped to pen the script. Acclaimed writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man) completed their own version of a Tomb Raider film several years ago as production was expected to start sooner, whereas King himself described the plot as more of a "character story" featuring a younger Lara Croft with lots of action.
Ultimately, Daugherty's addition means some changes will be made to fit the narrative, so any hopes of looking into earlier names like Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter), Olivia Wilde (Cowboys And Aliens) and Sharni Vinson (You're Next), may be moot at the moment. Nothing is quite clear yet as to how they plan to tell the story here so it's all basically speculative as far as this film is concerned; If you're curious about what Vinson herself said a few years ago about her interests in the role, click here. Otherwise, stay tuned for more info.
If you're like me and you're not a heavily educated film buff on classic ninja movies (I blame my deprived childhood for that one), then you understand what that kind of pain means. However, there is still hope as people like the longstanding cinephiles over at Subway Cinema are poised to host their fifth Old School Kung Fu Film Fest at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City with a slew of original 35mm prints of classic ninja films for our viewing pleasure. This year though, they're going to need a but more help.
Subway Cinema is currently running an Indiegogo campaign to pay the owners of the original prints and, among other things, help rent the equipment and space needed to help make Old School Kung Fu Film Fest 2015 happen. The festival's four-day event is set between 16th and the 19th this April and with the campaign ending in less than a month with well over 5k to raise, they could sure use every bit of help and support, and as always, donations to such movements as these are always rewarded - In this case, free tickets for you and your friends to opening night, the secret screener, and even your own damn sword. A SWORD...you little ninja wannabe you!
We're still a ways from Santiago Violenta helmer Ernesto Diaz Espinoza's latest stint with Chilean action hero, actor Marko Zaror in the bilingual revenge opus, Redeemer, following its stellar film festival run late last year. At any rate, the film is getting release in North America from MPI Media's Dark Sky Films this summer with a date pending, and with an initial trailer already online, we now have a new poster making the rounds from the folks at XYZ Films who also produced the film. Take a look
SYNOPSIS:
Marko Zaror is Pardo, a man with a heavy burden on his soul, looking for a way to atone for his past sins. As a vigilante, he stops criminals in their tracks and gives them only one chance to ask for forgiveness. Bad guys being bad guys, they rarely listen, and so Pardo disposes of them in any gruesome way available to him at the moment. He’s just as likely to impale a man’s face with a giant hook as he is to beat someone bloody with good old-fashioned punches and flip-kicks. When he crosses paths with Bradock (Noah Segan), Pardo suddenly has an entire criminal organization to contend with and finds himself caring for a woman for the first time since the tragedy that sent him on his current course.
Redeemer is the fourth outing between Diaz and Zaror since the martial arts action star broke ground with the 2006 thriller, Kiltro. Zaror has since long been celebrated as a rising star for the niche which will hopefully grant him bigger roles, particularly now that he's poised to get his debut in the upcoming superhero short film, Zambo Dende from director Riccardo Gabrielli R. The actor is also expected in a few more previously annouced projects, one of which includes The Green Ghost which filmed in Texas this year, while his forthcoming actioner, One Good Thing opposite Raid favorite Yayan Ruhian remains on hold.
In the meantime, with Redeemer on the way, fans should otherwise be pleased with the result when the film arrives. I know I was.Watch the most recent trailer below and stay tuned for an official trailer and release date from Dark Sky Films!
Henry Cavill in THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. From Warner Bros. Pictures (2015)
Man Of Steel star, actor Henry Cavill's days as a Kryptonian exile-turned-superhuman savior a la Zack Snyder will stake his claim once more next year in the growing ensemble lead-in to the Justice League two-parter in the next several years with Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice. In the meantime, while he's not taking flight and battling intergalactic foes, he's got plenty of other big screen titles to look forward to while maintaining other ends of film business behind the camera, including helping to manage the production of the forthcoming book adaptation, Stratton.
Further details are pending regarding who will be cast to join the title character for his action-packed exploits, although news from Screendaily has finally confirmed the directorial services of Con-Air, The Mechanic and The Expendables 2 helmer Simon West who is just coming off the latest limited theatrical release of his newest crime pic, Wild Card starring Jason Statham.Both Cavill and West are keen on sticking to the source material and delivering a faithful transition of the story beginning with the first book for a UK-based production, and so hopefully this newest venture will mark the start of its own franchise since it only seems fitting.
Amber Entertainment Ltd.'s Ileen Maisel and Lawrence Elman who intially optioned the project will co-produce with Promethean while GFM Films will finance and handle its sales as filming kicks off in the U.K. and Italy this Summer.
West's Wild Card is available right now on video-on-demand and will release on DVD and Blu-Ray in North America on March 31 from Lionsgate. In the meantime, Cavill will be joined by Armie Hammer in the new Guy Ritchie-directed espionage action comedy adaptation, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. for which a trailer is now making the rounds before its theatrical release this August from Warner Bros.
Dreamworks Animation's restructuring process is going to see its fair share of challenges, particularly following last month's reported losses. Ultimately, this includes prioritizing only a handful of franchise films between now and summer of 2018 along with the recent acquisition of co-production status for the newly dated March 18, 2016 release of Kung Fu Panda 3.
Bearing in mind the move also avoids going toe to toe with Star Wars: The Force Awakens this December but it is playing pretty close to the release of Warner Bros. Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Hopefully fans of the forthcoming Kung Fu Panda trilogy will make way to show their support as we await further info on what the film will entail. In the meantime, what we now also know is that Jennifer Yuh Nelson who directed Kung Fu Panda 2 and supervised the story and action animation for the first film in 2008 will now have some co-directorial company in the form of Alessandro Carloni, according to Deadline. Carloni also worked with Nelson on the first two films as well as last year's release of How To Train Your Dragon 2, and now joins Kung Fu Panda 3 with the intent on a more strengthened promotional campaign when it's time to roll it all out.
Jack Black is expected to return in the title voice role with the rest of the cast, although updates are still pending. Stay tuned for more info!
Look anywhere on YouTube and you'll find any number of independently conceived concepts attributed to the Ameritoku crossover series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. There are a few in the works on smaller scales as well as a feature film from Lionsgate and Saban, and while many of these could likely hit all the similar tones of a kid-friendly show, there's at least one vision that's taken a life of its own which completely undoes it all.
That said, Detention helmer Joseph Kahn and Dirty Laundry one-shot producer, Bootleg Universe's own Adi Shankar have a hell of a way of interpreting Ameritoku, and their latest contribution to the fandom with their own one-shot, Power/Rangers, is a distinct example of this. Written by Kahn, Dutch Southern and lead actor James Van Der Beek, Kahn's is a version which removes the kid-friendly appeal and replaces it with all the trimmings of a big-scale epic, now host to an alternative look into a dark, tragic future where the Machine Empire has taken over, our heroes have fallen and virtually nothing is what it seems, showcasing a newer perspective on the shortfalls of being young and granted supernatural abilities to take on larger-than-life enemies, seen or otherwise. Essentially, its Ender's Game by way of Tokusatsu with a shit-ton of NSFW storytelling and action with a level of violence and imagery, and character delivery almost perfectly suited for an R-rated concept. It's what you can expect from the guy who also helped put together Dredd and the newly-released Gangs Of Wasseypur, and so by all means, I have no complaints.
Director's Statement:
Deboot of the Power Rangers. My take on the FAN FILM. Not a pilot, not a series, not for profit, strictly for exhibition. This is a bootleg experiment not affiliated or endorsed by Saban Entertainment or Lionsgate nor is it selling any product. I claim no rights to any of the characters (don't send me any money, not kickstarted, this film is free). This is the NSFW version. An alternate safe version is on youtube.
You can watch the safe version by clicking HERE, and while this may not be a pitch video for a bigger project, it damn well proves just how amazing a pairing Kahn and Shankar are, and just how worth it they are as artists. I'm keen to this.
Update (2:00pm EST):Yes, the video does exist. Although it appears that our dear director may have been told to impede its availability from the public for the time being by someone higher-up. Upsetting, I know. But the SFW version is still viewable. Watch it now!
This week was a little nuts after trying to catch onto at least one more video for last week's post, so I didn't try too hard to hold out (actually, I did and fell asleep eventually, LOL) Luckily I managed to get everything I think I needed to so any late entries will just have to wait until next week. This one is pretty sizeable already what with all the crazy stunt reels and fight bits I found, so your mornings (or afternoons or evenings) should relatively be entertaining.
As always, there's plenty more freerunning to do in the world, and these guys are far from finished. Check out the latest from Marselo Martini, Ronnie Shalvis, and the dozens of athletes who attended the Singapore's Lion City Gathering earlier this month!
I didn't know this, but there's a tricking channel that's been online for a while now and the videos are simply amazing. Kudos to whoever started The Best Of Tricking channel and may you continue finding even more videos to create these wonderful montages that we could all probably watch forever and day!
I won't share all the videos here, just a few recent ones to help warm you up. Pull up a chair and marvel at the latest feats of Matt Emig, Marcel Jones and Daniel Graham, and the 'jazzy' pairing of Danny Etkin and Jacob Ellis courtesy of Etkin's own channel!
Alas, we get to have some fun with wrecks and fight bits from a plethora of new stunt reels by some of today's professional stunt performers. Featured are stuntwomen Suzuki Kimmy 鈴木希実, Lauren Mary Kim, Hannah Betts and Jennifer Badger, stuntmen James Hutchison, Airon Armstrong, Jacob Hugghins and Keith Cox, and a sick new workreel featuring the impressive work of stuntman and stunt coordinator, former Jackie Chan cohort Brad Allan!
I've also collected several shortfilm teasers this week. The first is still a mystery at the moment, courtesy of independent filmmaker, up-and-coming actor Andrew Saullo who can now be seen in the newly-released teaser for The Straggler. The project is Saullo's shortfilm debut and revolves around an unyielding dispute between a father and his former father in-law following the close call of his son's attempted kidnapping. The teaser's got some goods in it, so check it out and stick around in case it pops up online.
"Dream as if you'll live forever...live as if you'll die today..." - Such is the theme of the new upcoming short, Last Breath starring Sean LeeRoy as an amnesiac who awakens in a beach and must retrace his steps with only two clues in his possession: a ring and a photo of a mysterious woman. Last Breath is the latest product from indie banner Eternal Lion Studios where in-house filmmaker Jake Ramos has been making movies 2005, and the newly-released teaser is now making the rounds to introduce what Ramos has in store. It's a nice little nod to Christopher Nolan's Memento in my opinion. Take a look!
The next video headlines project that's been a couple of years in the making over in Memphis, Tennessee. The new short, I Am Spartan marks the latest foray into film by Society Of American Fight Directors member and Dance Nocturnal series founder, actor and choreographer Jyo Carolino, and fellow cohorts Kyle Baker and Geroge Hancock. Carolino stars in a story of a former solider's journey from a life of self-destruction to hopeful redemption through the most violent means. The result: Introspective drama coupled with an array of action sequences where everyone carries something sharp and deadly!
I Am Spartan also arrives this summer. Watch the teaser below!
...And finally, the fighting! It's February, but perfect timing nonetheless for you to catch onto the business involving the crew over at West Empire Productions, Ltd. The official channel has three new fight samplers featuring in-house filmmaker, choreographer and performer Lovel Johnson Jr. with performances by Ishida Sachiko, Narayana Cabral, Von Planters and Hope LaVelle. Take a look!
The next is a new video from the folks over at Singapore-based JKHH Films. They're a silly bunch and not the best of actors, but as always they're out to have fun and showcase their potential as hopeful stuntmen themselves, and their latest, 3 Guys, 2 Sequels, 1 Bag, is a pretty cool example. Watch it through to the end to get the twist.
Moral of the story: Don't steal another man's Berimbau or Mauaro Dos Santos will find you! Guerrero Capoeirista is the name of the latest short from Bogota-based Legionarius Films, showcasing some nicely-knit Capoeira indie action worth checking out!
The next is another lovely little test of action on film courtesy of filmmaker, stuntman and fight coordinator Matt Berberi with actress and stuntwoman Tara Macken in Agent 36. The setup? Our lead heroine's retrieval of a briefcase throws her in a bind with its key missing, and its bearer, played by Surawit Sae Kang ready to kill for it. Can Agent 36 get the key and live to tell the tale? Find out below!
....And last but FAR from least, you've helped fund it and supported it, and now it's finally here! Machinima proudly presents the latest debut from the team over at RobotUnderDog, Dragon Ball Z: Light Of Hope. Film duo Donnie and Rita McMillin have been at this for a few years now as they've been hard at work trying to adapt a fan-based telling of the future timeline centered on a much-older saiyan Gohan and young warrior-in-training, Trunks as they defend mankind against two rogue killers, Android 17 and Android 18, and for what it's worth, with all the last minute waiting and anxiety among fans, you certainly get how much of an undertaking this was. Criticisms aside, the action does this one some good justice.
Anton Bex and Jack Wald are joined by Lady Bloodfight star, actressAmy Johnston and actor Tyler Tackett, with action direction by Leo Kei Angelos and stunt/fight coordination by Tim Storms and Lohan Buson.
Take a bow Rita and Donnie.
Subscribe to these channels above and CLICK HERE to view last week's Hit List. If you have a QUALITY shortfilm or teaser project you would like to have presented on our site, feel free to e-mail us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com.
It's a bit surprising to see actor Wesley Snipes head to the small screen seeing as how his career has been largely theatrical, but it certainly lends some exciting news for NBC viewers now as the network ramps up its slate of pilots for 2015. Word from Deadline has it that he'll be joining lead actor Phillip Winchester in the upcoming pilot episode for the new series, Endgame.
Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the show centers on Winchester who will play Alex, a former intelligence agent-turned-security expert who gets swept into a conspiracy that will force him to take on a series of obstacles in order to save innocent lives. Actor Damon Gupton stars alongside Winchester as Vegas detective Cal Brown, friend of Alex, whereas Snipes will play the role of Johnson, the calm and collective, enigmatic Pit Boss of the game who maintains damage control when needed while keeping his eye on the big picture.
This isn't a complete move away from film as Snipes just finished off 2014 with an appearance among seasoned action heroes in The Expendables 3. He's got a few more along the way, including a remake of the 1961 Johnny Cash heist pic, Five Minutes To Live, which was sold internationally at the AFM late last year by Hannibal Pictures with Franck Kahlfoun on par to direct next month in Mobile, Alabama.
More details are pending for Endgame which Sony TV is producing with Davis Entertainment, with John Rogers, and Davis Entertainment's John Davis and John Fox executive producing. Stay tuned for more info.
Director James Nunn's latest ode to hooligan vengeance in Green Street Hooligans: Underground is finally hitting North American shores on DVD following a limited theatrical release earlier this year. Action star and actor Scott Adkins portrays a former hooligan himself, now forced back in the fray to investigate his brother's death and unleash his own brand of old school bare-knuckle justice with co-stars Jack Doolan, Kacey Barnfield, Spencer Wilding and co-star/action director Joey Ansah rounding out the cast.
February 24 is the film's release and Movieweb recently hosted a small featurette included on this week's new DVD which you can now view below. In addition, and thanks to Ansah, you can now also catch an awesome pre-vizualized behind-the-scenes look at Adkins and the rest of the cast as they get into hooligan character for the unmitigated chaos that ensues throughout the film. Watch the madness and linguistic filth unleash in the players below!
The Gachiban film series has stood the test of time in the years since launching in 2008 as a spoof of Miike Takashi's Crows films. Nowadays you'll find well over twenty titles in the saga with several directors at the helm gearing toward a specific niche of fans who've grown extra fond of the Yanki movie sub-genre category that's been observed time and again in several films and franchises focused on young, twenty-something delinquents who get caught up in their own respective troubles often coupled with outlandish humor and climatic battles with over-the-top fisticuffs and brawls galore.
As such, actor Jinnai Sho is now the center of focus in two new installments which released in Japan back in late January and just last week with the latest twofer in Gachiban: New Generation - Part 1 and Gachiban: New Generation - Part 2. Takashi Motoki, who has directed many of the Gachiban films in the saga's evolution is back in the chair with a script by Iketani Masao; Yonehara Kousuke, Tawada Hideya, Nitta Megumi, Daigo (Chidori), Uehara Keita and Hyuuga Jo round out the cast.
I can't find a description anywhere for either part except the nonsensical Google translations that don't provide much, but feel free to try and follow the basic idea from the trailers below and stay tuned for more information.
One of the more promising titles of late this year will be one for hardcore fans of action star Jean-Claude Van Damme's latest action thriller, Pound Of Flesh. Taking on China's seedy underworld in search of his missing kidney, Van Damme plays Deacon, a former military operative who wages a one-man war against an entire criminal organization with his niece's life at stake.
The trailers so far bode with sheer, gruesome displays of brutality at the very center of this grisly tale of redemption, continuing an upworthy trend of memorable performances by Van Damme whose films are only hitting harder in many aspects. I'm pretty sure the fans are loving it, and by May 20, 2015 when the film arrives courtesy of eOne, I'm sure they'll love it even more.
SYNOPSIS:
In China to donate his kidney to his dying niece, Deacon (VAN DAMME), a former black-ops agent, awakes the day before the operation to find he is the latest victim of organ theft. Stitched up and pissed-off, Deacon descends from his opulent hotel in search of his stolen kidney and carves a blood-soaked path through the darkest corners of the city – brothels, fight clubs, back-alley black markets, and elite billionaire estates. The clock is ticking for his niece and with each step he loses blood; Deacon with the help of his former underworld connections and his civilian brother will journey through society’s seedy underbelly, proving to anyone who crosses their path, nothing means more to a man than his flesh and blood.
Produced by Henry Luk with action sequences designed by John Salvitti, Falcon Rising helmer Ernie Barbarash directs from a script by Joshua James with actors John Ralston, Aki Aleong and late actor and martial arts action legend Darren Shahlavi rounding out the cast. Watch the most recent trailer below!
There have long been different iterations up for debate on just who legendary archer and folk hero Robin Hood really was. Well, leave it to writer and director Anthony Marciano to offer his own comical take on the original story, now in the form of Robin des Bois, la véritable histoire...or, The True Story Of Robin Hood with actors Max Boublil and Malik Bentalha and actress Géraldine Nakache starring. True or not, this one promises a fair share of giggles for all, rich or poor.
SYNOPSIS (Google Translated):
Robin Hood is a bad guy. He and his fellow Tuck have a very clear ethics in life: they rob the poor, women or the elderly. The rest? Too risky. But even the bad guys have dreams and theirs is to buy the brothel run most of the city, the Pussycat. Robin unstoppable when it comes to enrich themselves, then decided to get the money where it is located and plans to rob the cash taxes Nottingham. But his meeting with Sherwood gang of vigilantes who fly them the rich to give to the poor, will thwart his plans. Petit Jean, Marianne and their friends have indeed had exactly the same idea as him aim the Sheriff of Nottingham. The (true) story of Robin Hood can finally begin!
A new teaser is out this month ahead of its domestic release on April 15. Check out the trailer below! No English-subs unfortunately, but try to engage nonetheless.
Director Pierre Morel's upcoming international actioner, The Gunman, is coming on March 20, and while the trailers have been nothing short of stellar, a few bits of poster art that have gone viral have been either hit or miss. This week, we finally have some more artwork to share via IMDb, which ought to help gain the film some more attention with the film now a month away from its release. The red ought to be of some use here.
SYNOPSIS:
An adaptation of Jean-Patrick Manchette's "The Prone Gunman." Sean Penn stars as Jim Terrier, an international operative who is betrayed by the organization he worked for, and must go on the run in a relentless game of cat and mouse across Europe.
Also starring are Jasmine Trinca, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance and Javier Bardem. Check out the posters just beneath the most recent trailer.
Last year's go-around with the Denzel Washington/Antoine Fuqua hit pairing, The Equalizer, turned out some really amazing from its cast. One such performance came from supporting actress Haley Bennett who plays a friend to that of lead actress Chloe Grace Moretz in the story of a monastic former government operative whose fight for a young girl's freedom from human traffickers turned into a sprawling one-man war against an entire criminal organization, and at the rate we're going, we could very well see a sequel.
Before then, director Fuqua and our lead actor Washington are bound to rejoin for the production of The Magnificent Seven as of last June - a remake of the original 1960 classic western directed by John Sturges and starring Yul Brenner and Steve McQueen. Actor Chris Pratt was announced for a possible role in the film last December as well, and now, Deadline is reporting the film could very likely reunite Fuqua and Washington with actress Bennett for a leading role - a widow who hires a bounty hunter to avenge her husband's death at the hands of a rutheless gold-mining baron, offering enough money to split seven ways with his men to get the job done.
As a noteworthy mention, Pratt's name is also one with major circulation in the year following his successful start at Marvel as Star Lord in Walt Disney Co.'s Guardians Of The Galaxy, with any number of roles now lining up in his direction, including Cowboy Ninja Viking and Friday's Deadline report of his pick by Steven Spielberg for a reboot of Indiana Jones. Hopefully we'll learn more about which will come first in the months ahead as 2015 grows itself into another busy and exciting year for movies!
Hold on to your mullets and hero poses! LA-based Threw A Glass Productions has a batch of new projects running in 2015, including one that dares to revitalize the classic 1980's action hero with a few laughs to spare. Meet Jack, an action hero of satire built from the remnants of action cinema glory from a time when Stallone and Schwarzenegger were at their peak. Such nostalgia comes courtesy of in-house writer and director, actor Christian Howard(Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist, Warrioress) who stars in the title role, and for this, we now get a teaser that's worth every second he milks it for the camera.
SYNOPSIS:
Jack is a cop, in a world where crime doesn't take a day off, he is ready to uphold the Law, even if that means breaking the Law. Are you ready?
And just like that, following Thursday's poster reveal now comes the official trailer for director Toa Fraser's latest Maori action adventure thriller, The Dead Lands. If you're new to the title and are looking forward to possibly seeing something truly amazing at the movies, you're just in time as this particular gem has already earned the favorability of critics and movie goers since its domestic premiere in New Zealand after its 2014 film festival run. Yes, there are plenty of reasons to go to the movies this year, and accordingly, The Dead Lands is one to take note of!
SYNOPSIS:
Hongi (James Rolleston) - a Maori chieftain’s teenage son - must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains, led by Wirepa (Te Kohe Tuhaka), Hongi’s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden Dead Lands and forge an uneasy alliance with the mysterious Warrior (Lawrence Makoare), a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years.
Watch the brand new red-band trailer below courtesy of IGN and be sure to mark the date for its limited theatrical and video-on-demand release for April 17 from Magnet Releasing!
Going two-for-two this week, Well Go USA recently announced the acquisition of the new fantasy action adventure, Snow Girl And The Dark Crystal, on the heels of its release in China just this week. Now, we have a trailer to share, and gladly enough, the film will be getting its just dues in 3D as well when the film arrives at our shores on February 27, 2015.
SYNOPSIS:
Directed by Academy Award Winner, Peter Pau, Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is a big budget (30M US) romantic fantasy adventure about the legendary hero Zhong Kui, a fabled warrior with mysterious powers who is forced to conquer the realms of Heaven and Hell to save his people and the woman he loves.
Chen Kun and Li Bingbing star. Watch the new trailer courtesy of JoBlo!
While director Zack Snyder's twitter account continues to be a source of major fandom for the upcoming March 25, 2016 release of Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice, a new photo is now going viral presenting actor Jason Momoa as the King Of The Seven Seas himself, Aquaman. Momoa was finally confirmed for the role last summer after months and months of fleeting press coverage denying his involvement with Warner Bros's DC Movie slate.
The pic's virility has already generated a massive response from fans, though there are a few folks who still have their opinions on why he doesn't look like his usual comic book self... Seriously, some people are just silly.
Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice is the first of a new slate of films expected to arrive between now and 2020 as Warner Bros. looks to duke it out with Walt Disney Co.'s Marvel slate which is already in progress. The good thing here is that 2013's Man Of Steel has already generated quite the momentum for the rest of the story to play out the way Snyder needs it to since he's directing the Justice League twofer between 2017 and 2019.
As for who is directing Aquaman, it could be Snyder, but we'll see. Kurt Johnstad and Will Beall are writing the script for the standalone Aquaman movie's July 27, 2018 release.
