News

The name of a live-action adaptation of an anime series used to make fans’ hearts jump out of their ribcage, not out of excitement but out of fear. Only the recent success of Netflix’s One Piece has pacified fans, and now an upcoming Naruto live-action movie has been announced as well.

Fans have mixed feelings towards it due to the pre-existing anime series being extremely well-animated. But given that the director of the movie is Destin Daniel Cretton, fans want to be hopeful for the result.

Will the Naruto Live Action Movie do Justice to the Anime’s Fluid Combat Choreography? Naruto Vs. Neji in Naruto | Credits: Studio Pierrot

Naruto is famous for a lot of things, but most of all for its fight choreographies. Masashi Kishimoto created some truly extraordinary battle scenes in his manga. It is extremely hard to make fans envision battles via chapter panels, however,...

Exclusive: Matt Atchity has joined the Story Merchant companies as Associate Manager, according to CEO Ken Atchity, his uncle.

In addition to representing current Story Merchant intellectual properties, Matt will in his new role introduce stories he discovers to the Story Merchant family of companies, which include Atchity Entertainment International (The Meg), Atchity Productions (Mr. Irrelevant), Story Merchant Management, and Story Merchant Books. He will be working closely with Senior Associate Manager Tobe Roberts, who is based out of New York.

“Sam Skelton and the whole gang and I are delighted to welcome Matt to our family of companies,” said Ken Atchity in a statement to Deadline. “His vast knowledge of the commercial story market and cheerful gregariousness and sense of humor will contribute greatly to our expanding presence in the Hollywood marketplace.”

Shared Sam Skelton, Creative Executive and Producer at Atchity Productions and the Story Merchant companies, “Ken and...

Exclusive: Renowned martial arts filmmaker, stunt coordinator and performer, and action director Andy Cheng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) has been tapped to direct a feature adaptation of Shadow Ghost, the comic book written and illustrated by kung fu master and Fifth Ring Studios founder Sifu Kurtis Fujita, for Atchity Productions (The Meg franchise).

Shadow Ghost is described as modern, spellbinding coming-of-age story about a young man embarking on a quest to uncover the secrets surrounding an otherworldly martial arts hero. His journey into the realm of Kung Fu intertwines his fate with that of the enigmatic legend where he will fulfill a centuries-old destiny.

“We are thrilled to have Andy Cheng on board to direct the Shadow Ghost film,” said Atchity Productions CEO, Dr. Ken Atchity. “His unparalleled experience and passion for martial arts cinema make him the ideal choice to capture the essence of the Shadow Ghost saga.

What's Netflix thrown up for us this week? "Knights of the Zodiac" of course! What is that? Well, I'll be honest, I had no idea either. But I've taken a quick look-see and as it turns out, this Japanese fantasy film is proving pretty popular with Netflixers stateside.

A live-action adaptation of Masami Kurumada's manga, "Saint Seya," "Knights of the Zodiac" stars Japanese actor Mackenyu, alongside Madison Iseman and Nick Stahl. The film is also noteworthy for reuniting Sean Bean and Famke Janssen almost 30 years after they shared the screen in "GoldenEye." Co-produced by Toei and directed by "The Witcher" illustrator/producer Tomasz Tomek Bagiński, the film also features stunt and fight choreography from former Jackie Chan stunt team member and the man behind the action in Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," Andy Cheng.

Starting to sound like it might be ok, right? Well you...

Plot: When a goddess of war reincarnates in the body of a young girl, street orphan Seiya discovers that he is destined to protect her and save the world. But only if he can face his own past and become a Knight of the Zodiac.

Review: Live-action adaptations of anime films and series have succeeded in Japan, but few have overcome the transition to Hollywood. For every Alita Battle Angel, there is a Ghost in the Shell, Dragon Ball Evolution, and Death Note. The cultural barrier aside, there has never been the right balance between ambition and execution. Sony’s Knights of the Zodiac is a valiant attempt to bring the Saint Seiya anime to life with a modest budget and recognizable actors just below the A-list. The result is a visually impressive movie with some franchise potential that ends up being squandered by a bland screenplay that barely scratches...

Andy Cheng has earned tremendous kudos as the fight choreographer of the bus scene in Marvel’s recent “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” The scene took nearly a year to plan and execute, and serves to demonstrate Simu Liu’s previously-hidden skills to an open-mouthed Awkwafina, and has since been released by Marvel as a standalone YouTube clip.

Cheng is now hard at work trying to shape the next Asian superhero as action director, stunt coordinator and fight choreographer on “Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya,” a live action adaptation of hit Japanese animated property “Saint Seiya.” The film wrapped up shooting last week in Budapest, Hungary.

“We don’t have the same amount of time or available budget as on ‘Shang Chi.’ But the goal is absolutely the same,” Cheng told Variety. “To craft something very unique that is rooted in Asian culture and has universal appeal.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” wastes no time in getting right to the exciting martial arts action. And just as in recent action hit “Nobody,” the intense combat plays out on a city bus.

In the sequence, Shang-Chi, aka Shaun, played by Simu Liu has yet to learn about his past and superhero ties. He’s just a regular guy who works in the valet of a posh San Francisco hotel. When he and his friend Katy (Awkwafina) are ambushed, Katy learns about Shaun’s martial arts skills as he faces off against Razor Fist (Florian Munteanu) and his sidekicks in a thrilling display of palm strikes, axe kicks and fist-to-fist punches, as Razor Fist tries to grab Shang-Chi’s jade pendant.

Fight coordinator Andy Cheng, who has worked closely with Jackie Chan, spoke with Variety about how the sequence took over a year to choreograph – the...

In the exciting “Next Level Action” featurette, cast members Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh and Fala Chen, and producer Kevin Feige, director Destin Daniel Cretton and fight coordinator Andy Cheng offer an upfront look at the jaw-dropping action in Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings.” Showcasing a combination of Marvel Studios’ signature action style and the mastery of martial artists from around the world, “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” is poised to explode on screen with never-seen-before action and spectacle.

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” opens in theaters on Friday, September 3.

Get tickets now Here

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also...

To become a leading martial arts movie star, you must fight your way to the top. And Mortal Kombat star Lewis Tan has paid his dues. He’s a second-generation Hollywood martial artist, with his father Philip Tan being a British Taekwondo champion who’s been acting and working in stunts since the 1980s, eventually rising to be a distinguished action director in his own right. It gave Lewis an early start.

He was only three when he appeared in his first film, China Cry: A True Story. He grew up in the business. His father set him on the martial path too, teaching him how to fight at an early age. Outside of acting, Tan competed as an amateur fighter in Muay Thai and trained in Kung Fu, Jiu-Jitsu, and Japanese sword. Due to his lifelong dedication to the martial arts, he insists on doing his own fights and stunts,...

Since AMC cancelled its martial arts-infused series Into the Badlands in early 2019, it has attracted a cult following with all three seasons available on Netflix. Is it too late to revive the show? Daniel Wu, leading man and producer on the series, is doubtful. “I would never say never but I think the ship has sailed on that one.”

Wu played Sunny, the most lethal “clipper” in the Badlands. Into the Badlands was an original series set in a gun-free post-apocalyptic world where martial arts ruled supreme. Premiering in 2015, AMC cancelled it in the middle of the third season break. Into the Badlands was an extravagant big budget show, with lush costumes, a large cast, and massive sets. And to accommodate the copious fight scenes, it had a separate crew.

“It was expensive to make our show,” Wu admits. “We had two crews shooting at the same time—action and...

With over 25 years of experience working in Hollywood as a stunt performer and action actor, Sonny’s career has led him to reinvigorating the action genre in the Philippines as an action director and producer with a focus of bringing international productions to film in the country. In addition, future projects in development are slated to film in Asia and Europe.

On the occasion of “Maria” premiering at Netflix May 17, we talk with him about his training, his experiences working in Hollywood and in the Philippines, Anna Curtis and Cristine Reyes, Erik Matti, and about his approach on the particular film.

How did you first enter martial arts? What kind of training did you receive and how is your training program at the moment?

I started martial arts training in 1975 in Shorin Ryu Karate. My main martial arts style is a hybrid system of Karate, Judo/Jujutsu, Kenpo, Boxing called Kajukenbo-Wun Hop Kuen Do.

Stephen Harber May 9, 2019

The show's creators and Emily Beecham herself open up about the The Widow's action-packed, three year journey Into the Badlands.

This Into The Badlands article contains spoilers.

As you probably already knew, Into the Badlands started off as an adaptation of Journey to the West, an enormous historical fantasy novel by Wu Cheng'en that encompasses 100 chapters. But that was only inspiration to bring about something unique on the modern day television landscape.

"That was literally just our jumping off point," Miles Millar said. "We borrowed elements that we liked."

And they did. As the series continued its three year run, it resembled its source material less and less. During its third and final season, the show's central plotlines no longer revolved around macho warriors like Sunny and M.K. If anything, Into the Badlands began to focus primarily on the character of The Widow, played by Emily Beecham.

Rising Star Wesley Wong, son of legendary Hong Kong actors Angie Chiu and Melvin Wong, will star in the GenFilms SciFi original production ‘Qi : Spacetime Warriors’, a J. Kerry Film, directed by renowned Hong Kong – Hollywood Action Director and Stunt Coordinator Andy Cheng (End Game, Red Line, Rush Hour, Into The Badlands), featuring original music by Kevin Kiner (Stargate SG1, Star Trek Enterprise, Star Wars : Clone Wars).

In March 2018, Wong makes his U.S. film debut in the Legendary Entertainment/ Universal Pictures U.S. – China co-production ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ as one of a new generation of Jaeger Pilots, Ou-Yang Jinhai. A graduate of Bejing Film Academy, his feature roles included a supporting lead role in Sorry I Love You (2013), a remake of a successful Korean drama filmed in Bejing and Vancouver; a supporting role in the Thai-China co-production Massagist (2015); and lead roles in the Singaporean film Ah Boys...

Tagline: "Nothing Escapes." A new trailer has debuted for Johnny Martin's Delirium. The clip shows several young men and an initiation prank gone wrong. The film stars: Mike C. Manning ("Teen Wolf"), Griffin Freeman and August Roads. This indie horror title will show through Video-on-demand, via Gravitas Ventures. Delirium will also show in a few theatres, in a few select U.S. cities. A preview of the film's upcoming 2018 launch is hosted here. The trailer shows one man tasked with entering a haunted house. He disappears there. His friends go out to find him. But, there is something unnatural waiting inside. Delirium was previously titled Case Number 13. This title is a Martini Films' production. And, fans of indie, haunted house thrillers can find the latest on Delirium right here. Release Date: January 19th, 2018 (Limited Theatrical, VOD). Director: Johnny Martin. Writers: Francisco Castro, Andy Cheng. Cast: Mike C. Manning, Griffin Freeman,...

If you're a fan of the martial arts series Into the Badlands, you'll be happy to hear that AMC has renewed it for a 16-episode third season! If you're not watching the series, you really should be because it's freakin' awesome! On top of the fantastic martial arts fighting in the series, it also tells an intriguing story that's a lot of fun to follow. This is currently one of the highest-rated dramas on cable.

Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios had this to say in a statement regarding the renewal: 

"Into the Badlands looks like nothing else on television, a literal high-wire act attracting passionate and dedicated fans by the millions. Thanks to series creators and showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, the terrific cast, led by Daniel Wu, the amazing martial arts team guided by the incomparable Master Dee Dee and fight directors Stephen Fung and Andy Cheng,...

If you've been enjoying the martial arts mayhem of Into the Badlands, then you're in luck, because AMC has renewed the series for a 16-episode third season that is set to premiere in 2018.

Press Release (via TheFutonCritic.com): New York, NY - April 25, 2017 - AMC today announced that it has renewed the martial arts drama "Into the Badlands," one of the highest-rated dramas on cable, for an expanded third season of 16 episodes, returning to AMC in 2018.

Midway through its current second season, "Into the Badlands" is averaging 3.6 million viewers per episode, including 2.1 million adults 25-54 in Nielsen Live+3 ratings. In the current television season, the series ranks as the #4 scripted drama on cable and the #4 returning drama, behind "The Walking Dead," "American Horror Story" and "Fear the Walking Dead."

"'Into the Badlands' looks like nothing else on television, a literal high-wire act attracting passionate and dedicated fans by the millions,...

AMC is showing the love for Into the Badlands.

The beautifully filmed martial arts drama has just been renewed for a super-sized third season.

While Into the Badlands Season 1 consisted of six episodes and Into the Badlands Season 2 is currently at 10, Into the Badlands Season 3 will have a whopping 16 episodes for your exhaustion and enjoyment!

The series, which stars Daniel Wu, will return in 2018.

This renewal is quite a change from the second season renewal. Season 2 is currently airing.

Season 1 initially aired in 2015 and viewers had to wait until well into 2016 to get news of a renewal.

This could have something to do with the ratings. It's averaging 3.6 million total viewers and a 2.1 share of viewers 21-54 after three days of time-shifted viewing.

It's also the #4 scripted drama on cable as well as the fourth-ranked returning drama, behind only The Walking Dead, American Horror Story and Fear the Walking Dead.

AMC is heading back Into the Badlands… and it’s staying there a bit longer this time.

The martial-arts drama has been renewed for a third season, the network announced on Tuesday, with Season 3 expanding to a total of 16 episodes. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where fighters battle with fists and swords instead of guns, Badlands is currently airing its 10-episode Season 2 on Sunday nights.

RelatedCable/Streaming Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Cancelled? What’s On the Bubble?

AMC touts Badlands as the season’s fourth highest-rated scripted drama on cable, pulling in 3.6 million viewers a week in Live+3 viewing.

AMC has ordered a third season of its martial arts drama “Into the Badlands.” Sixteen episdoes will air in 2018. “‘Into the Badlands’ looks like nothing else on television, a literal high-wire act attracting passionate and dedicated fans by the millions,” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios, in a statement. “Thanks to series creators and showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar, the terrific cast, led by Daniel Wu, the amazing martial arts team guided by the incomparable Master Dee Dee and fight directors Stephen Fung and Andy Cheng, and everyone else involved who brings this thrill ride.

Former action star Ernie Reyes Jr. -- who famously played Keno in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II" -- is "fighting for his life" after suffering from kidney failure ... this according to his family. Reyes Jr. was huge back in the day -- starring as Tai in "The Last Dragon," Prince Tarn in "Red Sonja" ... and he was the main character in "Surf Ninjas." He later transitioned into Mma -- and went 3-0 in Strikeforce. Now,...

Can’t stop thinking about how great Furious 7 was? Cleanse your palate with this literal car wreck… Redline (2007) Director: Andy Cheng Stars: Nadia Bjorlin, Eddie Griffin, Angus Macfayden A female driver becomes an unwitting pawn in the world of high-stakes racing and gambling. Sometimes fans of a certain film dismiss criticism by saying, "Whatever, the movie's not hurting anyone." That might technically be...

Exclusive: Chinese film producers Chun-Yi Yueh and Changyu Li and UK writer-producers Robert and Ashley Sidaway together with the UK’s Iain Brown and Brown Films have launched the $5m funded Sz Wonder Pictures.

The new outfit will produce five feature films over three years based out of Shenzen, China and Auckland, New Zealand.

The first title is $18m family fantasy adventure The Wonder 3D, directed by BAFTA Award-winner Peter Hewitt (Garfield, The Borrowers) which will start principal photography in October 2013 in Auckland and Shenzhen. The Chinese and Western cast will be announced shortly but Karl Urban and Willow Shields were previously understood to be attached to the project.

Us-based Hyde Park International will handle sales and distribution on the film outside mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Production partners include venture capital company RuHing Partners in China, New Zealand Film Commission and Film Auckland. Bonding the film in both China and New Zealand is European Film Bonds...

Mandrill, fresh off its selection as Best Film of Fantastic Fest 2009, is a hell of a movie. Director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza brings his love for classic 70s exploitation and James Bond films, and adds a unique style to a great piece of storytelling. Couple that with having Marko Zaror, one of the most amazing martial artists alive, as your lead man, and you should get a sense for why so many people love this film. I had the great privilege of sitting down with both Diaz Espinoza and Zaror to talk about their movie. We also talked about how to get the ladies and discussed Mirageman, the film that made these two Fantastic Fest royalty two years ago. Over several cocktails, we talked in a secure karaoke room while Andy Cheng, director of the Mirageman remake Defender 3D provided some color commentary from off-camera. What do you think?...

Being a metaphorical vamp was easier for Nikki Reed than being a real vampire. She survived her teenage seductress days but playing Rosalie Cullen in the Twilight movie almost did her in. She explained how tough it was to be a blonde vampire in the new movie based on the teen lit phenomenon.nbspCrave Online Did you have any mishaps doing any of the Twilight stunts?Nikki Reed I had to fly on cables as I was running and it wasnt until I was up in the air that I realized that my arms and legs were not coordinated. Like you dont know which arm goes with which leg when youre in the air. Its really painful. It was painful for me. Well I mean youre like putting on like this suit of you know its like 15 pounds and then its like a girdle that youre like being strapped into...

Nathan Phillips and Eddie Griffin are toplining Redline, an auto thriller being directed by stunt coordinator-turned-director Andy Cheng. Daniel Sadek is producing via his Chicago Pictures banner. The film also stars Nadia Bjorlin (Days of Our Lives) and will feature a cameo from Wyclef Jean, who is scoring the movie. Not only is Sadek, a real estate investor-turned-producer, financing the pic to the tune of $26 million, but he also is using his personal car collection for the car sequences. Sadek is putting his Phantom, Lamborghini Murcielago, Enzo Ferrari, Ferrari F430, Ferrari Scaglietti and two McLarens, among others, in the movie and will destroy one of his two $200,000 Porsche Carrera GTs in one sequence.