A Man Will Rise

Last updated

A Man Will Rise
A Man Will Rise.jpg
Jaa and Lundgren on the film set.
Directed by Tony Jaa
Vitidnan Rojanapanich
Written byDavid Anderson
Gabe Burnstein
Produced byJulaluck Ismalone
Starring
Production
companies
Distributed bySahamongkol Film International
Release date
Delayed indefinitely
Running time
Unknown
CountryThailand
LanguageEnglish
BudgetUnknown

A Man Will Rise (originally known as Local Hero) [1] is an incomplete comedy western film directed by Tony Jaa and Vitidnan Rojanapanich, and starring Jaa, Dolph Lundgren, Conan Stevens, and Byron Gibson. Set in 1950s Thailand, the film follows a local gangster who terrorizes a town. When a young man opposes him, the gangster hires a group of foreign hit men to kill the rebel and silence the town. [1]

Contents

In January 2013, Jean-Claude Van Damme was rumored to be co-starring alongside Jaa; in reality, he was never available due to scheduling issues, and as a result, Lundgren was cast as an alternative. The film entered production in April 2013, but came to an abrupt halt after three months of filming. Sahamongkol Film International filed a $49–50 million lawsuit against Jaa, Universal Pictures, and United International Pictures, claiming Jaa was in breach of his contract by accepting a role in Fast and Furious 7 . After two years of legal proceedings, Sahamongkol dropped the lawsuit in July 2015. Despite this, production of A Man Will Rise has not continued, and the film remains incomplete.

Plot

A local gangster terrorizes a town. When a young local man stands up to the gangster the villain brings in a group of foreign hit men who like to dress as cowboys to pacify the town. ...

Cast

Production

Development

News of the film first emerged under the working title of Local Hero in January 2013. Jean-Claude Van Damme was rumored to be co-starring alongside Jaa, but he could not commit due to scheduling issues; he was filming Swelter at the time. Dolph Lundgren was cast as an alternative. [1]

Filming

Filming began in April 2013; Jaa was announced as co-director the same month. After three months of filming, production came to an abrupt halt with only 20% of the film complete. [2] Sahamongkol Film International filed a $49–50 million lawsuit against Jaa, Universal Pictures, and United International Pictures in September 2013, claiming that Jaa was in breach of his contract by accepting the role of Kiet in Fast and Furious 7. [3] [4] [5] Sahamongkol based their sum on the cost of launching Jaa's career and loss of future earnings, plus an additional 7.5% interest. [5] They attempted to halt the release of Fast and Furious 7 in Thailand, [4] and on March 27, 2015, a civil court approved, blocking release the film until a settlement had been reached by both parties. [6] The court came to its decision after interviewing two employees of Sahamongkol: Akarapol Karasaranee, the son of the company's president, Somsak Techaratanaprasert; and Suwat Apaipak, a member of Sahamongkol's legal team. [7] In response to the allegations, Jaa stated that his contract with Sahamongkol had ended. He claimed that it was terminated through his lawyer in 2013, [5] [8] describing it as "business slavery" due to its allegedly overrestrictive terms and conditions. [8] Sahamongkol claimed that the contract had been renewed for another ten years, through 2023. [5] In the suit, Sahamangkol also requested that Jaa pay back his salary for A Man Will Rise, reportedly ฿26 million ($722,000). [2] The legal matters surrounding the lawsuit have prevented the completion of the film, [9] and although the lawsuit was dropped in July 2015, [4] [10] the film remains unfinished. There are currently no plans to complete the film. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolph Lundgren</span> Swedish actor and martial artist (born 1957)

Hans "Dolph" Lundgren is a Swedish actor, filmmaker and martial artist. Born in Spånga, Sweden, Lundgren became interested in martial arts at a young age. This would lead him to hold the rank of 4th dan black belt in Kyokushin karate and become European champion in 1980 and 1981. In 1982, while studying to get a master's degree, he became the boyfriend of singer Grace Jones. He moved to New York City with her and started taking acting classes. In 1985, Lundgren had a breakthrough role playing the lead villain as an imposing Soviet boxer named Ivan Drago in Sylvester Stallone's Rocky IV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Jaa</span> Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer

Tatchakorn Yeerum, better known internationally as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom, is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, director, and traceur. Best known for his martial arts films, he is credited with helping establish the Thai action genre worldwide.

<i>Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior</i> 2003 Thai film

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, also known as Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior or simply Ong-Bak, is a 2003 Thai martial arts film directed by Prachya Pinkaew and featured action choreography by Panna Rittikrai. It stars Tony Jaa in the lead role, alongside Petchtai Wongkamlao and Pumwaree Yodkamol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panna Rittikrai</span> Thai actor and director

Panna Rittikrai or birth name Krittiya Lardphanna was a Thai martial arts action choreographer, film director, screenwriter, and actor. The head of the Muay Thai Stunt team, he is best known for his work as a martial arts and action choreographer on the 2003 film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and 2005's Tom-Yum-Goong, starring Tony Jaa, whom Panna mentored.

<i>The Bodyguard</i> (2004 film) 2004 Thai film

The Bodyguard is a 2004 wire fu action comedy film written and directed by Thai comedian and actor Petchtai Wongkamlao and featuring martial-arts choreography by Panna Ritikrai. It is followed by the 2007 prequel, The Bodyguard 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prachya Pinkaew</span> Thai film director, screenwriter and film producer

Prachya Pinkaew is a Thai film director, film producer and screenwriter. His films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and Tom-Yum-Goong, both martial arts films starring Tony Jaa.

Muay Thai Stunt is a Thailand-based group of stunt doubles, formed by Panna Rittikrai to work alongside him on action films. Members of the stunt team are skilled in acrobatics and gymnastics, parkour, weapons-related fighting arts, Muay Thai and other martial arts including Wushu and Tae Kwon Do. The stunt team specializes in fight choreography, fall stunts, wire-work, vehicular stunts and explosion stunts. A trademark of Panna's films is the use of full contact rather than pulling punches or the use of camera tricks in the fight scenes.

<i>Ong Bak 2</i> 2008 Thai film

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning is a 2008 Thai martial arts film co-directed by Panna Rittikrai and Tony Jaa, who also stars in the lead role. it is the standalone prequel to the 2003 film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and is set in 15th century Thailand. In the film, Tien trains himself in martial arts, where he becomes a lethal soldier and sets out to avenge his parents' death.

Poj Arnon is a Thai film director. He is best known for his 2007 film Bangkok Love Story, that won him the Grand Prize at the Brussels International Independent Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekachai Uekrongtham</span> Thai theatre and film director

Ekachai Uekrongtham is a Thai theatre and film director. Based in Singapore, Ekachai is the founding artistic director of ACTION Theatre, a Singapore professional theatre company.

The 2003 Bangkok International Film Festival was held from January 10 to 21, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand.

<i>Chocolate</i> (2008 film) 2008 Thai film

Chocolate, also known as Zen, Warrior Within, is a 2008 Thai martial arts film starring Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda in her debut film performance. It is directed by Prachya Pinkaew, with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai. It also stars Hiroshi Abe and Pongpat Wachirabunjong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gianni Capaldi</span> Scottish actor

Gianni ‘Aldi’ Capaldi is a Scottish actor and film and television producer.

<i>Icarus</i> (2010 film) 2010 Canadian film

Icarus is a 2010 Canadian action film starring and directed by Dolph Lundgren in his last directorial effort until 2021. The script was written by Raul Inglis, produced by Breanne Hartley and Kirk Shaw. The film co-stars David Lewis, Samantha Ferris, and Bo Svenson. The film centers around Edward Genn, a former Soviet hitman known as "Icarus". After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he has moved to the United States to begin a new life, but his past catches up to him.

<i>Skin Trade</i> (film) 2014 Thai film

Skin Trade is a 2014 American action thriller film directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham. It stars Dolph Lundgren and Tony Jaa, alongside Michael Jai White and Ron Perlman. Lundgren wrote the film with Gabriel Dowrick and Steven Elder, while John Hyams performed uncredited script revisions.

<i>Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning</i> 2012 American science fiction action film by Hyams

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is a 2012 American science fiction action film directed by John Hyams, who co-edited with Andrew Drazek, and wrote the screenplay with Doug Magnuson and Jon Greenlagh. It stars Scott Adkins with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, who both reprise their roles from the first film, alongside newcomer Andrei Arlovski. It is the sixth and final installment in the Universal Soldier film series.

<i>Tom Yum Goong 2</i> 2013 Thai film

Tom Yum Goong 2 also known in the US as The Protector 2, in the UK as Warrior King 2 and in Germany as Return of the Warrior is a 2013 Thai martial arts film directed by Prachya Pinkaew and written by Eakisit Thairaat. It is the sequel to Pinkaew's Tom-Yum-Goong with Tony Jaa and Petchtai Wongkamlao reprising their roles.

<i>Kindergarten Cop 2</i> 2016 American film

Kindergarten Cop 2 is a 2016 American comedy film starring Dolph Lundgren and directed by Don Michael Paul. It is a standalone sequel to the 1990 film Kindergarten Cop, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Principal photography in Maple Ridge, Langley, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada took place for 28 days, from July 27 to August 24, 2015. The school at which the film was produced is Kanaka Elementary. The film was released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on DVD in the United States on May 17, 2016.

Simon Kuke is a Thai actor, action choreographer, director, and producer.

<i>The Gangster</i> (2012 film) 2012 Sahamongkols Thai drama action film

The Gangster is a 2012 Sahamongkol's Thai drama action film directed and written by Kongkiat Khomsiri.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Brown, Todd (2013-04-10). "Fresh Details On Dolph Lundgren And Tony Jaa's A MAN WILL RISE". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  2. 1 2 "Thai actor Tony Jaa talks about making movies in Hollywood and Kong", www.news.asiaone.com, published 03-31-2015. Retrieved 09-05-2015.
  3. Zahra, Nageen. "Fast and Furious 7: Tony Jaa's Contract Delays Premiere in Thailand" Archived 2016-10-13 at the Wayback Machine , www.segmentnext.com, published April, 2015. Retrieved 09-05-2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Brown, Todd. "Sahamongkol Withdraws Lawsuit Against Tony Jaa" Archived 2015-09-12 at the Wayback Machine , www.twitchfilm.com, published 07-08-2015. Retrieved 09-04-2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Frater, Patrick. "Thailand Release of 'Furious 7' Halted by Tony Jaa Contract Dispute", www.variety.com, published 03-27-2015. Retrieved 09-05-2015.
  6. Bangkok Post Reporter. "'Fast and Furious 7' screening stopped in Thailand", www.bangkokpost.com, published 03-27-2015. Retrieved 09-05-2015.
  7. Cremin, Stephen (27 March 2015). "Fast & Furious 7 blocked in Thailand". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 Schmid, Thomas. "Tycoon 'furious' over thai star Tony Jaa's defection" Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine , www.filmjournal.com, published 10-14-2013. Retrieved 09-06-2015.
  9. Friel, Eoin. "Will We Ever See 'Re-Kill' Or 'A Man Will Rise'?", www.theactionelite.com, published 05-28-2014. Retrieved 09-04-2015.
  10. Bangkok, Coconuts. "Sahamongkol withdraws lawsuit against Tony Jaa", www.bangkok.coconuts.co, published 07-07-2015. Retrieved 09-04-2015.
  11. The Night Rider. "EXCLUSIVE: Tony Jaa Talks To ManlyMovie On Skin Trade, Injuries & More", www.manlymovie.net, published 03-16-2015. Retrieved 09-05-2015.