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It figures that this little slice of action cinema news heaven dropped after I did my Weekly Intel episode but none the less, expect some major bang coming from Asia with the news that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon producer Bill Kong is looking to press the reset button with his newest project The Furies. News coming out of Variety brings word that some serious talent is involved including The Raid’s Joe Taslim and Yayan Ruhian.
Kong, also known for the international hits Hero and Fearless, both with Jet Li in his prime, is fast tracking his passion project which has already started production in Bangkok. It’s important to note that The Furious is a movie that is being produced by Hong Kong but it won’t be filmed in Hong Kong without Chinese backers saving it from Chinese censorship. Kong is treating the movie, which will be English language as an import film with Kong’s Edko Films production banner financing and producing. XYZ Films will produce as well and handle worldwide sales.
Along with Taslim and Ruhian, who are representing Indonesia, other well known Asian action stars involved include China’s Xie Miao, Thailand’s Jeeja Yanin (Chocolate), and Yang Enyu. A true Expendables ensemble style actioner in the vein of Triple Threat.
The icing on the cake for The Furious is that world renowned action choreographer and designer Tanigaki Kenji. This is a case of the awesome trend of stunt and fight choreographers turning director and now we have the best that Japan has to offer helming this one which should excite genre fans. Tanigaki is responsible for designing the action for such action hits as The Monkey King and the Rurouni Kenshin franchise. He’s basically Asia’s equivalent to Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.
“I’m not interested in making actors who cannot move look as if they can,” Tanigaki says. “Our cast has real skills from different martial arts disciplines. Everything we are doing is going to be practical.”
The plot for The Furies is standard stuff but it’s all about the action here isn’t it? According to Variety, the synopsis reads, “When his daughter is snatched off the street, simple tradesman Konggu (Xie) fights his way through a complex web of criminals in a frantic attempt to win her back by any means necessary. His only ally is tireless journalist Navin (Taslim). The two men from utterly different backgrounds must learn to trust, collaborate and draw on combat skills from their own hidden pasts.”
Kong is being overly optimistic here by saying that, at best, if The Furious is considered a failure, then it will still be as good as The RAID. Essentially, Kong is saying that this one will leave The RAID in the dust when it comes to the action design. Ambitious indeed.
“I’m going to do an action movie that rocks the world. And to prove that Hong Kong still has something to give the film industry. I want to show that Asian people can still make an action movie that is better than the rest of the world,” Kong told Variety.
Kong says it’s time for Asia to reclaim the action mantle and with The Furious, he’s betting all he has on it. Lock n Load for future Intel to hit!!!!
Source: Variety
