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One has iron fists, the other has a rotating blade gun.
Musician-turned-actor-turned-writer-director-and-actor RZA has called his upcoming kung fu flick The Man With the Iron Fists the "most challenging" project of his career, and, after watching the movie's trailers, it's easy to see why. While RZA had help writing the script from Eli Roth (Hostel) and has Quentin Tarantino "presenting," the martial arts movie set in 19th Century China (and shot in the country as well) was, no doubt, a daunting directorial debut.
So far, RZA appears to be up for the challenge. Previous character trailers introduced Bronze Lion (Cung Le) and Madame Blossom (Lucy Liu), but the latest trailer introduces RZA's character The Blacksmith, who becomes a human weapon to protect his village.
more kung fu trailersSaturdays 10:00a ET / 7:00a PT
watch the trailers and read why RZA had to skip Django Unchained >> Posted 10.23.12 by Ryan -
After starting his career with the rap group the Wu-Tang Clan, Grammy-winning musician RZA transitioned to movies by writing scores, first with Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai in 1999 and, notably, Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. RZA also kickstarted an acting career with cameo appearances in movies (Funny People, Repo Men) and a stint on Showtime's Californication.
Up next for RZA is to not just act, but also direct, co-write and score a movie: The upcoming martial arts action flick The Man With the Iron Fists, which sees RZA play a blacksmith in a small village in 19th Century China who ends up becoming a human weapon to protect the village from various nefarious foes. In an interview with BillBoard, RZA revealed that The Man With the Iron Fists was his "most challenging job to date."
all the latest trailersSaturdays 10:00a ET / 7:00a PT
read about RZA's "challenge" and watch the trailers >> Posted 10.19.12 by Ryan -
We've been hearing about Grammy-winning music producer, musician, emcee and actor RZA's (Californication) long-gestating martial arts movie, The Man With the Iron Fists, since 2008, and now the first riotous, raucous Red-band trailer for the movie has finally been released. Co-written (with Eli Roth) and directed by RZA, The Man With the Iron Fists was inspired by classic action-adventure kung-fu movies like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) and features an eclectic ensemble cast that includes Lucy Liu, Jamie Chung, Pam Grier and Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe. Here's the synopsis:
Since his arrival in China’s Jungle Village, the town’s blacksmith (RZA) has been forced by radical tribal factions to create elaborate tools of destruction. When the clans’ brewing war boils over, the stranger channels an ancient energy to transform himself into a human weapon. As he fights alongside iconic heroes and against soulless villains, one man must harness this power to become savior of his adopted people.
MORE >> Posted 06.29.12 by BrentJS -
Joel Edgerton proved his acting chops in last year's critically–acclaimed, Aussie import Animal Kingdom, but Stateside, the actor has been cast more in action movie roles such as The Thing, Warrior and the upcoming adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Ok, scratch that last one.
Edgerton's latest action role could be in the 300 sequel, 300: Battle of Artemisia (formerly Xerxes). Vulture reports that Edgerton is in talks to play Themosticles, the famed Athenian archon and general who led the Greeks to victory against the invading Persians in the Battle of Artemisium, which again saw a smaller Greek fleet go up against a stronger Persian navy. The fight took place during "the exact same three days" as as The Battle of Thermopylae, which was the inspiration for the first 300.
300 director Zack Snyder and his screenwriting partner Kurt Johnstad wrote the script for the sequel, which is again based on a forthcoming graphic novel by Frank Miller. Israel-born director Noam Murro (Smart People) will direct the movie, while Gerard Butler and Lena Headey will reportedly reprise their 300 roles of Leonidas, king of the Spartans, and Queen Gorgo, respectively.
john goodman joins the coen brothers; RZA joins Quentin Tarantino >> Posted 11.03.11 by Ryan -
Paramount is slowly assembling its cast for G.I. Joe: 2, the upcoming sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra from director Jon Chu (Justin Bieber: Never Say Never).
Earlier this month, French actress Elodie Yung (District 13: Ultimatum) was cast as L.A.-born ninja Jinx, while Dwayne Johnson began talks to possibly join the cast as heavy machine gunner and aspiring chef Roadblock. Chu and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland) have decided against using most of cast of The Rise of the Cobra, meaning there are plenty of new characters to cast for the sequel. Two more are getting drafted into the elite covert special forces unit.
who was cast? >> Posted 06.28.11 by Ryan -
Variety reports that Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA will star with Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis in Due Date, the upcoming comedy from director Todd Phillips (The Hangover, Old School, Starsky & Hutch).
The story involves a soon-to-be father who is in danger of missing his child's birth. In order to make it on time, he has to enlist the help of an underachieving college student, who takes him on a road trip.
The RZA has already starred in and produced music for a number of features, perhaps most notably those of indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. If you haven't yet seen it, check out this hilarious clip from Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes, in which RZA discusses the ills of caffeine addiction with fellow Wu-Tang member GZA and ... Bill Murray.
RZA is also starring in Paul Haggis's upcoming movie The Next Three Days and is scoring Robbie Brenner's Warriors Way.
Due Date also stars Michelle Monaghan and Jamie Foxx and is scheduled for a November 5, 2010 release.
Posted 10.08.09 by reelz