(Variety) Distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to “Raging Fire,” the latest action thriller featuring martial arts superstar Donnie Yen.
The pic is set to hit U.S. theaters later this year before landing on martial arts streaming channel Hi-YAH!.
“Raging Fire” is the final title from the late Hong Kong helmer Benny Chan, who passed away last August. He was best known for action and martial arts works, including crime thriller “The White Storm,” 2011’s “Shaolin, and Jackie Chan pictures “New Police Story” and “Robin B-Hood.”
It was produced by Emperor Film Production, Tencent Pictures and Super Bullet Pictures.
Yen, known for his roles in Disney’s live-action “Mulan” and the “Ip Man” franchises, appears alongside actors Patrick Tan (“Ip Man 3,” “Master Z”), Nicholas Tse (“Shaolin,” “New Police Story”), Jeana Ho (“The Grandmaster,” “Special Female Force”), and Ray Liu (“Flash Point”).
“We are thrilled to team up with Emperor, Tencent and Super Bullet Pictures to bring ‘Raging Fire’ to North American audiences,” said Doris Pfardrescher, Well Go USA president and chief executive. “Martial arts and Asian action fans have been anxiously awaiting the next big Donnie Yen theatrical, and ‘Raging Fire’ is more than worth the wait.”
In the movie, Yen plays Shan, a well-respected veteran cop whose past comes back to haunt him when a sting operation is attacked by a mysterious group of criminals. They are led by Ngo (Nicholas Tse), one of his past protégés on the police force who had once respected and admired him. But Ngo has changed after three years in prison, having emerged with a deep-rooted grudge and a mission to destroy everyone who had ever wronged him — including his former mentor.
“Raging Fire” features work from action directors Huen Chiu Ku (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Kung Fu Hustle”), Kenji Tanigaki (“Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen,” the “Rurouni Kenshin” franchise, “Enter the Fat Dragon”), and Chris Collins (“Ip Man 4”), as well as action choreographer Kang Yu (“Chasing the Dragon,” “Special ID,” “Big Brother”).
The deal was negotiated by Pfardrescher at Well Go and Miriam Cheung at Emperor Film Production on behalf of the filmmakers.
Well Go USA Entertainment is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with an additional office in Taiwan.
Source: Variety by Rebecca Davis