I don't know if anybody can quite measure up to Gareth Evans (The Raid) when it comes to crafting visceral, inventive action sequences, but Chad Stahelski and David Leitch sure came close with John Wick. It's been tremendously exciting to see the duo branch out to bring those skills elsewhere. While Leitch has moved on to direct The Coldest City and become a contender for the Deadpool sequel, Stahelski has taken on John Wick: Chapter 2 solo. And now Stahelski is venturing on his next solo effort, and it will find him directing Evans' most prized actor, Iko Uwais.
Stahelski will direct Triple Threat, an apt name considering its three ass-kicking stars: Iko Uwais of The Raid flicks, Tony Jaa of Ong Bak fame, and Tiger Chen who starred in Keanu Reeves' pretty-awesome Man of Tai Chi. Oh Hell yes. And the plot sounds perfect for the trio with the Dwayne Smith-penned story centering on a Chinese martial artist who takes on a Mexican drug cartel (!!!) after they kidnap his ex-wife and son. Wang Xiaolie will be helping out as co-director on the film, which was previously known as Makeshift Squad, another apt title. Also, martial artist Scott Adkins, who can be seen as the villainous Lucien in Doctor Strange, has suggested himself to play the bad guy because there can never be enough awesome fighters in one movie.
Yes yes yes a thousand times yes! The film is just beginning to be sold at the American Film Market, and I think sales will go extremely well, but Jaa has already announced that shooting kicks off in February! [THR]
