By: John M Jerva

Filmmaker Daniel Zirilli is keeping busy with a host of action film projects on his plate and the latest one has him directing a pair of WWE stars along with former UFC champs Randy Couture and Rashad Evans. Throw in the always dependable veteran character actor Neil McDonough and this one looks to be a indie action good time.

The film is called Phoenix and it’s headlined by WWE star Natalie Eva Marie as a U.S. Army hand to hand instructor who goes on the warpath when her father dies of mysterious circumstances. Her mission of vengeance puts her on a collision course with former WWE tag team champion Oleg Prudius who is the man responsible. Expect mass casualties per usual as the bodies will hit the floor.

Official Synopsis Per Deadline: Phoenix centers on Fiona “Phoenix” Grant (Marie), a U.S. Army veteran Sergeant who is teaching hand-to-hand combat skills in Afghanistan when she receives word that her father, Everett Grant (Couture), a prominent security specialist, has been killed in Florida. The police report says it was suicide, but Fiona doesn’t believe it. Encouraged to take a leave of absence by her commanding officer (McDonough), she heads back to the U.S. and soon learns that the prime suspect is Maxim Vasiliiev (Prudius), a ruthless local drug kingpin with an army of mercenaries and enough legal, political and business influence to keep him outside the law. Armed to the teeth, she plans to take out Vasiliiev with her bare hands, and nothing is going to stop her.

Zirilli directs along with co-writing the script with Alexander Nistratov from a story of Zirilli’s. The film is currently in production in Miami and I’ve actually seen BTS images of the cast and Zirilli on social media over the last few weeks.

Zirilli also has the action pic Renegades on the can which hails from the new production banner Shogun Films. His long awaited action film Invincible starring Johnny Strong and Marko Zaror will finally hit the U.S. in March from Lionsgate Entertainment. Couture will also be seen sometime this year as he reunites with Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone for Expendables 4.

Phoenix comes to us from Tadross Media Group, and Bulldog Brothers Entertainment with Michael Tadross, Jr., Bernard Salzmann and Alexander Nistratov and Asif Akbar serving as producers on the project.

The fight choreography for the film is in good hands as veteran martial arts choreographer Arnold Chon handled the fight and stunt action. Phil Tan also contributed to the production with a fight scene and cameo.

Keep it locked and loaded right here for more 411 to follow on Phoenix as we are your destination for everything action in 2022 and beyond!

Source: Deadline