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Chris Farley’s comedic legacy often centers on physical slapstick and larger-than-life characters, and few movies illustrate this better than the mostly forgotten Beverly Hills Ninja. Released in 1997, the film plays out like many of Farley’s films, and ended up becoming known as the actor’s final movie to be released prior to his death in December that year. Almost 30 years later, fans have made the film another unexpected success on Tubi, the home of free streaming and long-lost movies.

The story follows Haru (Farley), an orphan discovered off the coast of Japan and raised by a clan of ninjas. While he dreams of mastering martial arts, Haru’s clumsy nature and hefty size set him apart from his disciplined peers. Nevertheless, fate intervenes when a mysterious blonde (Nicollette Sheridan) shows up, begging Haru for his help to uncover dangerous criminal activity back in Beverly Hills. Determined to prove himself,...

Beverly Hills Ninja gained a cult following despite poor reviews, thanks to Chris Farley's physical comedy and the mix of martial arts and humor. Following Farley's death, David Hasselhoff was set to replace him in Beverly Hills Ninja 2, generating curiosity and skepticism. Lawsuits surrounding the sequel exposed the tumultuous behind-the-scenes drama and highlighted challenges in international film production and rights management.

Beverly Hills Ninja, released in 1997, is remembered as a comedic romp featuring the late Chris Farley in a winning blend of martial arts and humor, and Beverly Hills Ninja 2 was briefly in development too. The original film follows inept ninja Haru (Farley), an American raised by a clan of martial artists in Japan when he washed ashore as a young boy, who finds himself on a comical adventure in Beverly Hills. Despite poor reviews from critics, the movie gained a cult following, thanks to Farley's physical comedy and...

Sneak Peek the martial arts family comedy "Dancing Ninja", directed by Kelly Sandefur and Mitchell Klebanoff,  starring David Hasselhoff and Lucas Grabeel, available on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment:

"...in Beverly Hills, 'Ikki' and a beautiful young girl 'Kimi', join forces and use their unique training to fight evil and discover what it truly means to be an elite 'Dancing Ninja'..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Dancing Ninja"...

There's more legal fallout from the doomed Korean-produced sequel to Beverly Hills Ninja, which was set to star David Hasselhoff instead of the original 1997 comedy's lead actor, Chris Farley. Last year, Mitchell Klebanoff, who co-wrote the original and was tapped to direct the follow-up, won a lawsuit against  Korean investors who bought rights to the franchise from Sony. An arbitrator in the dispute determined that the investors hadn't properly terminated him as a director and awarded him nearly $262,000. Now comes a new lawsuit from Jay So, who says he was contracted by Klebanoff and

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Scribe Mitch Klebanoff is currently adapting supernatural thriller 'Paranormalcy' from the novel by Kiersten White. Reverie Entertainment Partners picked up the rights to the novel before it was published and now it appears they may have the right man for the job of bringing it to the big screen. Norwegian director and photographer Ray Kay is being lined up for directorial duties on the new project. Kay has previously helmed a bunch of award-winning music videos and is responsible for such memorable vids such as Lady GaGa's Poker Face, Destiny Child's Soldier, Willow Smith's Whip My Hair and Justin Bieber's Baby....

You may not know the name Ray Kay right off the bat, but it you are one of the many who worship at the feet of Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber, you're more than familiar with his work. Kay directed the music videos for both Poker Face and Bieber's Baby, and now he's ready to tackle film!

What better place to start than the horror genre? Variety reports that Kay will make his feature directorial debut with the supernatural thriller Paranormalcy.

Mitch Klebanoff is adapting from the novel by Kiersten White. Gil Adler Prods. and Reverie Entertainment Partners optioned the book prior to its publication by HarperCollins.

Paranormalcy centers on a teen who works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency and discovers she may be at the center of a dark prophecy predicting the destruction of all paranormal creatures.

Adler will produce along with Brian Espinosa, John Ryan, Jr. and Chris Farrell,...

I'm always interested in seeing what music video directors can do on the big screen. Coming from telling short form stories in 30 seconds, it's a big leap to take on an hour and half project. People like Michael Bay have succeeded, while his predecessors like Sam Bayer (Elm Street remake) have failed. Musicvid director Ray Kay, whose credits include Justin Bieber's "Baby" and Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," is set to make his feature directorial debut on the supernatural thriller Paranormalcy, which Mitch Klebanoff is adapting from the novel by Kiertsen White, reports Variety. "Story follows a teen who works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency and discovers she may be at the center of a dark prophecy predicting the destruction of all paranormal creatures." I don't like puns, therefore I don't like the title.

By Jeff Sneider 

Mitchell Klebanoff, the co-writer and co-producer of "Beverly Hills Ninja," has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against a group of Korean investors over the sequel to the 1997 Chris Farley martial-arts comedy.

Klebanoff claims that the Koreans failed to provide adequate funding, which forced the production to shut down repeatedly, ultimately leading to his removal from the project.

Klebanoff doesn't specify damages in the suit but c...

Striking while the iron is hot, Sony is set to make a sequel to Beverly Hills Ninja. Wait a minute...didn't the first one completely suck?

Yes, yes it did. But that doesn't matter, even though it didn't make a ton of money. Apparently, we're now ready to follow that story again. Great. And just when I was about ready to start carving titles into granite for my Sequels We Didn't Need Memorial. Now the columns are all wonky.

The news gets worse, however. Among the stars: The Hoff.

Yep, David Hasselhoff will join Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical and a gorgeous model/actress named Lin Chiling. Even though Variety says Sony holds North American distribution rights, can you really see this making it to theaters? This smells like a direct-to-DVD product to me.

Even still, Sony is looking at releasing the movie in May. Supposing it gets theatrical distribution,...

Wow, I sure didn’t see this one coming so fast. In your opinion, what’s worse: the fact that “Beverly Hills Ninja 2” is actually happening, or the fact that it has David Hasselhoff in it? That’s a tough one.

Variety today reported the sequel to Chris Farley’s 1997 action comedy “Beverly Hills Ninja” will be heading into principal photography in South Korea early next month.

Mitchell Klebanoff, one of the writers of the first film, is directing his own script. As for the story, the flick follows an orphaned boy who desires to become a ninja but gets thrust into Hollywood’s crime scene instead.

The cast includes David Hasselhoff, “High School Musical” actor Lucas Grabeel and Lin Chiling (“Red Cliff").

The film is shooting for the most part in South Korea because it saves everybody tons of money. Hey, I would do the same. Sony Pictures plans...

I can stomach Hollywood making another Ghostbusters movie, even if I fret that a new installment might ruin the original shine; but what the hell are motion picture people thinking with the announcement today that there will be a forthcoming sequel to 1997's Beverly Hills Ninja, plainly titled Beverly Hills Ninja 2? To my mind, the only appeal the original film had was that it starred the then-hot property (and now sadly passed) Chris Farley. I recall seeing the movie back when, but today can't recall a single plot point. Given that the Dennis Dugan-helmed film has a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and only made a paltry $30 million, who thought this was a good idea? We at least know novice Mitch Klebanoff did, since he was the writer the first time around and will now direct the sequel. Variety tells us that production is set to begin shortly in ...

We're getting more Beverly Hills Ninja. It might be September, but it feels like it's Christmas! Variety reports that the film will be the first mainstream Hollywood flick to shoot in South Korea, but it's still keeping to its roots with the simple name -- Beverly Hills Ninja 2. Written by Mitch Klebanoff (co-producer and writer of the original), who will also direct, the terrible idea will focus on "an orphaned boy who wants to be a ninja but becomes involved in a crime in Hollywood while looking for his real parents." One would think Kevin Farley might be the guy heading this sucker, but no it's DAVID HASSELHOFF. Oh yes, try to resist the Hoff going ninja.

Farley, instead, gets a little something different. What do you do after you run with the cliche of "unattractive" girls who can miraculously become hot with the help of a shunned Playboy bunny?...