This movie annual hot list is based on the most anticipated martial arts movies 2015 that already awakened the force for moviegoers and fans are most looking forward to seeing.
Iceman 3D part 2
The sci-fi movie about the imperial guard and his three traitorous childhood friends ordered to hunt him down get accidentally buried and kept frozen in time. Donnie Yen is working hard to stay on the top of olympus but how it has been said “work smarter not harder”, and after flops like Special ID and Kung Fu Jungle maybe he will start picking up projects more carefully. So if you liked the first part wait for the second one sometime in 2015.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend
The sequel to 2000’s epic movie now in hands of grandmaster Yuen Woo-ping with Donnie Yen as a lead and Michelle Yeoh reprising her role of Yu Shu Lien. Movie is scheduled for release in USA on August 28.
Ip Man 3
This one is probably the most anticipated martial arts movie and regarding the last news filming will start in March. As Asian filmmakers work very fast we can expect the final product by the end of the year… but for Asian audience only, western fans will see it only in 2016. Donnie is also rumoured to star in Noodle Man, The Master and Dragon City but because of his busy schedule I don’t think we will see these movies this year.
Dragon Blade
The new $65,000,000 Jackie Chan’s project about lost Roman soldiers that navigate their way through China is expected to be released on February 19 in Asia but no words yet when we will see it in other countries. So stay tuned.
Skiptrace
Skiptrace is another Jackie Chan’s movie that scheduled for 2015 release. This is a story about detective from Hong Kong who teams up with an American gambler to battle against a notorious Chinese criminal. Chinese people will see it in December 2015 when European in March 2016. Jackie Chan also rumoured to play in Rush Hour 4 and Karate Kid 2 but don’t expect them until 2017.
Pound of Flesh
Jean Claude van Damme will be plotting his revenge and running around the town without a kidney. Darren Shahlavi played the main villain Goran with a help of Mike Leeder who played Boris, yes, Boris, Russians are everywhere… By the way this is a 13th time when Van Damme works together with his son Kristopher Van Varenberg.
Full Love
We all hope Van Damme will finally release his movie Full Love previously known as Soldiers and The Eagle Path this year. This is a story about a military veteran and former mercenary named Frenchy who is haunted by his childhood, as well as his past in the military. Movie was filmed in Thailand in the summer of 2008, then screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and filmed again in August 2012 for additional scenes.
Kickboxer: Vengeance
This is a modern remake of 1989’s movie with Van Damme as a lead. It has a budget of $17,000,000 and this time Van Damme plays a role of Master Durand, Dave Bautista plays Tong Po, Darren Shahlavi is Eric Sloane and newcomer Alain Moussi is Kurt Sloane. Film attracted super stars of UFC such as Georges St-Pierre and Gina Carano. Larnell Stovall will be serving as a fighting choreographer. Movie has 22 producers so as I can imagine money was collected from every possible source to bring this movie to life.
Kickboxer: City of Blood
This is an Albert Pyun‘s version of Kickboxer with Sasha Mitchell, Kevin Sorbo, Mohammad Quissi (original Tong Po) and Dennis Chan. Cast is not so strong as in the previous Kickboxer remake but Albert Pyun has his own vision so hopefully fans of his cyborg movies will enjoy it.
The Martial Arts Kid
The martial arts movie that has been crowd funded on Kickstarter website proved that someone’s dream project can become a reality with a help of fans. Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock promoted the film very well to make it one of the most anticipated in 2015. It is about school bullying problems and how to gain confidence and self defense skills with a help of great instructors of martial arts.
White Tiger
This movie was filmed in Thailand in 2014 and united Matt Mullins with Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock, moreover this is the last movie of a great champion Joe Lewis. This is a story about a cop who after his partner is killed, teams up with a mercenary, to take down his partner’s killers. Cynthia plays one of the villains.
Skin Trade
Movie is scheduled for April release. $9,000,000 project united Tony Jaa, Dolph Lundgren, Michael Jai White, Ron Perlman, Peter Weller and Celina Jade. This is a story about Nick, a tough NY cop, who runs afoul of the Russian mob engaged in human trafficking, and they end up killing his wife and daughter for revenge. Dolph Lundgren first wrote the script in 2006-2007 and intended to direct the film himself before deciding to let somebody else take the helm so he could focus on the producing duties. The script was originally written to be set between New York and Moscow. Steven Seagal was considered for a part.
A Man Will Rise
Another project united Tony Jaa and Dolph Lundgren. Story is about a young local man who stands up to the gangster, and than the villain brings in a group of foreign hitman who likes to dress as cowboys. 7′ giant actor Conan Stevens is in this movie too, he known by Vikingdom and Bangkok Adrenaline films.
SPL 2: Rise of Wong Po
The prequel to 2005 Donnie Yen’s movie. This time it united Wu Jing with Tony Jaa, Sammo Hung and Andy On. Budget is US$23 million, filming started on the 1st of May 2014 and concluded on 6 September 2014. No exact release date yet.
Wolf Warrior
This movie is scheduled for the March release in China. $12,000,000 project allowed Wu Jing to direct and even invite Scott Adkins for a role. Film tells a story about a Chinese special force soldier with extraordinary marksmanship that confronted by a group of deadly foreign mercenaries who are hired to assassinate him by a vicious drug lord.
Close Range
Isaac Florentine is currently filming his next action flick called Close Range with Scott Adkins as a lead. This is a story about a rogue soldier turned outlaw that thrust into a relentless fight with a corrupt sheriff, his obedient deputies, and a dangerous drug cartel in order to protect his sister and her young daughter. Film also known as Dust Up. No exact release date but I suppose we should see it by the end of this year. Scott is also attached to play alongside Dolph Lundgren in $2,000,000 project Four Towers.
Rise of the Legend
The new Wong Fei-hung’s movie Rise of the Legend is scheduled for 21 November release in China. Universal Pictures International acquired all international rights to the film. Rise of the Legend tells the story of the martial arts master for a new generation with Eddie Peng as a lead and Sammo Hung as a mentor.
The Golden Cane Warrior
The Golden Cane Warrior is a period martial arts tale featuring action choreography by Hong Kong maestro Xin Xin Xiong. It stars Nicholas Saputra, Eva, Celia, Reza Rahadian, Tara Basro and Christine Hakim. Should be released somewhere in 2015.
Black Salt
The new martial arts short Black Salt from Ben Ramsey, the director of the Michael Jai White‘s Blood And Bone. Based on the indie comic book of the same name, the film stars Kinyumba Mutakabbir, James Lew, Michelle Lee, Master Xiaojun Wang, Arnold Chon. This film was collecting money on Indiegogo crowd funding website.
The Transporter: Legacy
This film is focusing on Martin’s earlier years as a self-employed transporter-for-hire and scheduled for a June 19, 2015 release. Ed Skrein playing a lead and Luc Besson producing.
Redeemer
A Spanish-language martial arts actioner Redeemer with Chilean action star Marko Zaror as a lead. The film is reportedly heading to North America by way of Dark Sky Films with a summer 2015 release date currently pending.
Yakuza Apocalypse
Takashi Miike mixed his genres again in Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War Of The Underworld. The martial arts movie is scheduled hitting screens sometime in 2015. The movie stars Yayan Ruhian from the Raid series.
Yasmine
Yasmine is directed by Siti Kamaluddin and features a female lead named Liyana Yus, who has spent a whole year preparing for the physical demands of her role. This is a Silat martial art based movies with a story about lady Yasmine who is decided to tied up in an underdog Silat club.
Reflex
Freerunner and stuntman Dean Alexandrou stars as a man who is stuck in a repeating loop of time, and must explore and navigate his way through an Asian metropolis. Film is directed by Daniel Zirilli and stars Rom Smoorenburg. All stunts made by Kecha Khamphakdee and Jaika Stunts.
The Monk
Chen Kaige’s upcoming 3D martial arts film The Monk stars Aaron Kwok as a highly-skilled monk who is forced to leave his monastery and fight for himself in the outside world. Film is based on Xu Haofeng’s novel A Monk Comes Down the Mountain. No release date yet.
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