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While we wait for release news on Iko Uwais’ next couple of films Timur and Skylines: Warpath, we have some casting news for the highly and criminally underrated action star. Uwais is finally getting his time to prove internationally that he is one of the most legit and complete martial arts action stars in cinema today and now he will highlight his discipline of Silat once again for a new hard hitting action pic called Warrior.
Variety is reporting that Uwais is set to star in and executive produce Warrior via his Uwais Pictures production banner and the film will come full circle for the star as he will be able to fully unleash his kinetic and brutally beautiful martial arts of Silat on the big screen once again.
Per Variety: The film follows a former elite Silat practitioner who walks out of prison determined to leave his violent past behind – a resolution that quickly unravels when a Malaysian crime syndicate moves into his neighborhood, seizing control of local streets and going after the people he cares about. Drawn back into the world he tried to escape, he finds himself the sole obstacle between the syndicate and the community it wants to control. The conflict spirals from street-level intimidation into full-scale warfare, played out across Jakarta’s markets, back alleys and rooftops.
The Raid franchise has been Uwais’ best product to date without question, and this film looks to bring back the retro vibes of one of his earlier films called Merantau. The film predated The Raid and was the first time Uwais headlined a movie and was able to showcase his art. Everyone considers The Raid as his best, but I feel that Merantau stands on its own just the same.
Warrior will mark the directorial debut of John Radel ACS who has worked on many action films in the past including Dev Patel’s Monkey Man and Blackhat which starred Chris Hemsworth and was directed by Michael Mann. Radel has worked with Uwais before and has served as the DP and producer on the aforementioned Warpath. Uwais’ partner in his production company Ryan Santoso will also executive produce. Delon Tio will produce through Nation Pictures and will combine with Erika North and Nick North of Yeti Entertainment. Veteran action cinema producer and casting ace Mike Leeder will also produce through Red Packet Media.
The article also states “the project is the first to emerge from a newly formed joint venture between Asia Media Alliance Group and Nation Pictures, which is focused on genre filmmaking across Southeast Asia for the international market. A broader slate of action and horror titles is expected to be unveiled in the coming months.”
Warrior is set to go in front of the cameras this summer. The film will be shot in Indonesia and will encompass the beautiful country and its locations along with local crews and martial arts talent. K-Movie Entertainment is handling international sales for Warrior so expect some distribution intel to hit in the near future.
Check out Uwais doing what he does best in the meantime with a full throttle fight sequence from his early action epic Merantau which was also directed by Gareth Evans who did The Raid films!
