No, Donnie Yen is not starring in a new Russell Mulcahy film - though his sister Chris is in Mulcahy's Give 'Em Hell Malone - but Arclight Films have just announced a pair of high profile new projects involving the pair. Coming from Mulcahy is 3-D action thriller Bait while Yen will star in Daniel Lee's period martial arts epic 14 Blades.
Here's the skinny on Bait:
In a sleepy coastal resort community, shoppers at an underground supermarket find themselves terrorized by a crazed bandit when the unimaginable occurs... A monstrous freak tsunami swallows the town. Now trapped inside a flooded supermarket with an armed maniac and rushing water threatening to entomb them all in a watery grave, the imprisoned band of survivors discover they're not alone. The tsunami has brought some unwanted visitors from the depths. As the waters rise they must overcome not only the threat of drowning, but another threat, just as deadly and far more bloodthirsty... Packs of hungry tiger sharks.
Mulcahy, apparently, has lost his mind in glorious fashion. A killer, a giant wave, imminent drowning and packs of sharks? In 3D? This is daft beyond words and with a visual stylist like Mulcahy at the helm should be buckets of very silly fun. As for the Yen / Lee collaboration:
During the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor of China possessed one weapon greater than all others, the Jinyiwei, an elite force of assassins recruited from street orphans. Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades, eight being for torture, five for killing, and the last blade being reserved for suicide when a mission failed. Above the law, with a license to kill, the Jinyiwei devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone.When the Imperial Court is taken over by evil eunuch JIA, the best of the Jinyiwei, QUINGLONG and XUANWU, are assigned to steal a list identifying those still loyal to the Emperor. However unbeknownst to Quinglong, the Jinyiwei have fallen under the control of Jia, and during the mission Quinglong is betrayed by Xuanwu and barely escapes with his life. Now as the most wanted man in the land Quinglong must seek out and rally the loyalists to rise against Jia and restore the Emperor to power. In his way are the deadliest assassins in the land, his former brethren, the Jinyiwei.
This one's still in the scripting stage, so don't expect it any time soon.
Stanley Tong should work more on his "Film-Look", i have to say, his movies look always rather like tv-shows
Donnie Vs a band of lethal assassins? Doesn't sound like filler to me.
As for the Mulcahy project - BRING IT ON! The promo trailer for Give Em Hell Malone looks excellent.
i always thought it was a shame that Donnie Yen never got more exposure here in the states, as the got to guy for U.S. martial arts movies. I put him right up there with Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
"Just as long as they cast actual martial artists in those roles, it should be fine."
This. Sadly, he might just end up fighting Shawn Yue, Nicholas Tse and the likes.
Daniel Lee? He directed the first Black Mask which is a movie that actually enters the label of dumb but fun. What else he directed?
*checks imdb*
Dragon Heat? Oh shi.....
Nicholas Tse is a respectable action star. The guy can hold his own. He tries hard when it comes to action so he deserves some credit. Id take Nicholas Tse over....the Twins. *cringe*
@milkyway
I actually posted for jackie's conder 3 project, don't know how it slipped here over. Daniel Lee in advance has a great visual style.
Indeed but I still don't like his style. Maybe its just the way it looks and affects, it's not interesting.
Bait sounds exactly like what I'd expect from Russel Mulcahy: a total lack of restraint with the story!
Yet I can't wait to see what pictures he will provide for it.