Scott Adkins

Last updated

Scott Adkins
Scott Adkins Stuttgart Comic Con 2023.jpg
Portrait of Adkins, Stuttgart Comic Con 2023
Born
Scott Edward Adkins

(1976-06-17) 17 June 1976 (age 47)
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England
Nationality British
Occupations
  • Actor
  • gymnast
  • screenwriter
  • film producer
  • martial artist
Years active1998–present
Children2
Website scottadkins.com

Scott Edward Adkins (born 17 June 1976 [1] ) is a British actor and martial artist. He gained prominence with his villainous portrayal of the Russian prison fighter Yuri Boyka in the American martial arts film Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006), a role he reprised in its sequels Undisputed III: Redemption (2010) and Boyka: Undisputed (2017). He has since made films in a variety of genres, such as crime dramas, martial arts movies, war films, action thrillers, sci-fi actioners and action comedies, mostly as the lead. [2]

Contents

Born in Sutton Coldfield, Adkins began practising martial arts at age 13, taking up taekwondo and earning his black belt at age 19. His early acting credits include minor roles in the Hong Kong films The Accidental Spy (2001), Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002), and The Medallion (2003), and the American films Special Forces (2003), Unleashed (2005), and The Pink Panther (2006). His portrayal of Yuri Boyka in the Undisputed film series won him an Action on Film Award for Breakout Action Star in 2010 and a Jackie Chan Action Movie Award for Best Action Movie Actor in 2017. His first lead role was as Casey Bowman in the American martial arts film Ninja (2009), a role he reprised in the sequel Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013).

Adkins is known for his collaborations with Jean-Claude Van Damme, starring in The Shepherd: Border Patrol (2008), Assassination Games (2011), Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning and The Expendables 2 (both in 2012). He also starred opposite Kellan Lutz in The Legend of Hercules (2014), Wu Jing in Wolf Warrior (2015), Donnie Yen in Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019), Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais in Triple Threat (2019), and Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).

Early life

Scott Edward Adkins was born in Sutton Coldfield, [1] a town within Birmingham, into a family of butchers. He first became interested in martial arts at the age of ten, when he visited a local Judo club with his father and older brother. [3] After being robbed at age 13, his interest in martial arts grew even more. That same year, he began to practice Taekwondo. Since the age of 16, Scott also started to practice Kickboxing with Anthony Jones, eventually becoming a kickboxing instructor for the Professional Karate Association. He ran classes at the Fitness First at Bearwood, Smethwick once a week. He has also gained experience in Ninjutsu, Krav Maga, Karate, Wushu, Aikido, Jujutsu, MMA, Capoeira and Gymnastics.

As a youth, Adkins was inspired by Jackie Chan, [1] Bruce Lee, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jean-Claude Van Damme, stating, "I wanted to be an actor first because I grew up idolizing action stars. The first one for me was Bruce Lee, and then there was Stallone and Arnold, and then Van Damme came along in '88 and really inspired me". [4]

Acting career

He secured a role in a Hong Kong martial arts film called Dei Seung Chui Keung (2001) (aka Extreme Challenge). He was spotted by Head of the Hong Kong Stuntmen Association and director Stephen Tung and British-born Hong Kong movie expert Bey Logan, and found himself in the East for the first time. [5] [6] He had the opportunity to work with some of Hong Kong cinema's leading action directors including Yuen Woo-ping, Corey Yuen, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan. Acting roles soon started to come in and he was offered a guest role in the BBC's Doctors (2000) filmed at Birmingham's Pebble Mill. He appeared in a few episodes in BBC's EastEnders (2003) and City Central (1999), and a lead role in Sky One comedy drama Mile High (2003) followed by a regular role in BBC's Holby City (2006) as Bradley Hume, the assistant general manager of Holby General.

Starring roles in feature films soon followed with his portrayal of Talbot in Special Forces (2003) and Yuri Boyka in Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006). It was this film that broke him into the mainstream with his villainous portrayal of the Russian MMA underground fighter Yuri Boyka. After this Scott had guest starring roles in bigger budget films like The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and The Tournament (2009), and played Jean-Claude Van Damme's main adversary in Sony Pictures The Shepherd: Border Patrol (2008). He shared the role of Weapon XI with Ryan Reynolds in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). His first lead role was as Casey Bowman in the American martial arts film Ninja (2009), [1] a role he reprised in the sequel Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013).

In 2014, Adkins appeared in the role of King Amphitryon in The Legend of Hercules . [7] [8]

In 2012, he was cast to star in Métal Hurlant Chronicles , a television adaptation of the popular French comic book Metal Hurlant .

He has worked in four films with his idol Jean-Claude Van Damme: The Shepherd: Border Patrol (2008), Assassination Games (2011), Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning and The Expendables 2 (both in 2012).

Adkins was reunited with action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping in 2019 when he starred alongside Donnie Yen in Ip Man 4: The Finale as the main antagonist Barton Geddes, a Marine gunnery sergeant. [9] According to Adkins, Yen personally requested him to star in the film. [10]

In 2022, he starred in Day Shift with Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco, and appeared in John Wick: Chapter 4 alongside Keanu Reeves in 2023. [11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 The Accidental Spy Lee's bodyguard / Turkish leaderCredited as Scott Edward Adkins
Extreme ChallengeIsac Borman Direct-to-video
Pure VengeanceDanyShort film
2002 Black Mask 2: City of Masks Dr. LangVoiced by Jordan Chan in the Cantonese dub version
2003 Special Forces Talbot Direct-to-video
The Medallion Snakehead's Henchman
2005 Unleashed Swimming Pool FighterAlso known as Danny the Dog
Pit Fighter Nathan Direct-to-video
2006 The Pink Panther Jacquard / Footballer
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing Yuri Boyka Direct-to-video
2007 The Bourne Ultimatum Agent Kiley
2008 The Shepherd: Border Patrol Karp Direct-to-video
Stag Night Carl
2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Weapon XI Role shared with Ryan Reynolds
The Tournament Yuri Petrov Direct-to-video
Ninja Casey Bowman
2010 Undisputed III: Redemption Yuri Boyka
2011 Assassination Games Roland Flint
2012 El Gringo The Man
The Expendables 2 Hector
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning John Direct-to-video
Zero Dark Thirty John Simmons
2013 Legendary Travis Preston Direct-to-video
Green Street 3: Never Back Down Danny Harvey
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear Casey Bowman
2014 The Legend of Hercules King Amphitryon
2015 Zero Tolerance Steven Direct-to-video
Wolf Warrior Tom Cat [12]
Close Range Colton MacReady Direct-to-video
Re-Kill Parker
2016 Home Invasion Heflin
Jarhead 3: The SiegeGunny Raines
Grimsby Pavel Lukashenko
Criminal Pete Greensleeves
Hard Target 2 Wes Baylor Direct-to-video
Doctor Strange Lucian / Strong Zealot
Eliminators Martin Parker / Thomas Mackenzie Direct-to-video
2017 Savage Dog Martin Tillman
Boyka: Undisputed Yuri Boyka
American Assassin Victor
2018 Accident Man Mike Fallon Direct-to-video; also producer and screenwriter
Deadpool 2 Weapon XI Archive footage; shared role with Ryan Reynolds
The Debt CollectorFrench Direct-to-video
IncomingReiser
No SurrenderThe Crazy OneOriginally known as Karmouz War
2019AbductionQuinn Direct-to-video
Triple Threat Collins
Avengement Cain Burgess
Ip Man 4: The Finale Barton Geddes
2020Debt CollectorsFrench Direct-to-video; a sequel to The Debt Collector;
Released as Payback in the UK
Legacy of Lies Martin Baxter Direct-to-video
Seized Nero
Dead Reckoning Marco
The Intergalactic Adventures of Max CloudMax Cloud
2021 One Shot Jake Harris
Castle Falls Mike WadeLimited release
2022 Day Shift Diran Nazarian
Section Eight Leonard Locke Direct-to-video
Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday Mike Fallon Direct-to-video; a sequel to Accident Man ;
Also producer, screenwriter and fight choreographer
2023 John Wick: Chapter 4 Killa Harkan
Wherever You GoJoseph

The US release date has not been determined; Originally known as Matrah Matrouh

2024 One More Shot Jake Harris Direct-to-video; A sequel to One Shot
Lights Out Don 'The Reaper' RichterLimited release
The Killer's Game †Angus Mackenzie Post-production [13]
Take Cover †Sam Lorde Post-production; Direct-to-video
2025 Skyline: Warpath †Eric Corley Post-production; Direct-to-video
Diablo †Kris Chaney Post-production; Direct-to-video; Also producer
Key
†Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Adkins in 2011 Scott Adkins Hector.jpg
Adkins in 2011
YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 Dangerfield Episode: "Paths"
1999 City Central Jake ClantonEpisode: "Life Liberty and Pursuit"
2000 Doctors Ross3 episodes
2001 The Big Breakfast Himself1 episode
2002 Mutant X MarkoEpisode: "Sign from Above"; uncredited
2003 EastEnders Joel6 episodes
2005 Mile High Ed Russell12 episodes
Hollyoaks: Let Loose Ryan2 episodes
2006 Holby City Bradley Hume9 episodes
2012, 2014 Métal Hurlant Chronicles Guillame / Joe Manda3 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workAwardCategoryResults
2010 Undisputed III: Redemption Action on Film Award Breakout Action StarWon
2017 Boyka: Undisputed Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards Best FightWon
2017 Boyka: Undisputed Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards Best Action Movie ActorWon

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About Scott Adkins". ScottAdkins.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/scott-adkins-last-action-hero-afm-1235627180/amp/
  3. ↑ "Interview | Scott Adkins on 'Close Range' and 'Doctor Strange' - CraveOnline". CraveOnline. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Scott Adkins Interview: 'Universal Soldier,' Fighting van Damme, and 'Zero Dark Thirty'". 24 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Francisco, Eric (21 February 2024). "Scott Adkins is the Last of the Great Action Stars". Inverse . Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Travis (4 October 2021). "Enter the world of action star Scott Adkins with 'Ninja: Shadow of a Tear'". SBS Australia . Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Peter Martin. "Scott Adkins Crowned King In Renny Harlin's HERCULES 3D". TwitchFilm. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "'Kickboxer' Reboot Punches Up Cast With Scott Adkins, Tony Jaa". Variety . 5 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Meet Scott Adkins, Donnie Yen's nemesis in Ip Man 4". South China Morning Post. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Topel, Fred (1 January 2020). "'Ip Man 4: The Finale' Villain Scott Adkins Reveals One Big Change in His Fight with Donnie Yen". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Kroll, Justin (29 June 2021). "'John Wick 4': Scott Adkins In Talks To Join Keanu Reeves In Next Installment". Deadline. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "Scott Adkins". Archived from the original on 21 April 2014.
  13. ↑ Fuge, Jonathan (11 July 2023). "John Wick 4 Stars Scott Adkins & Marko Zaror Join Dave Bautista in Action Flick The Killer's Game". MovieWeb. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
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