It’s pretty much a given that, in the last few years,David Leitchhas become one of the most relevant names when it comes to action cinema. After celebrated titles likeJohn Wick,Deadpool 2andBullet Train, the director is following up his winning streak with theRyan Gosling(Barbie) flickThe Fall Guy. During a press tour for the movie at SXSW, however, Leitch spared a minute to talk to Collider about one of his next projects:KungFu, which stars none other than martial arts legendDonnie Yen(Ip Manfilm series).
During the conversation, Leitch told our Editor-in-ChiefSteve Weintraubthat obviously a movie setin the martial arts worldhits close to home for him. The director hails from the stunt performing arts, and has choreographed action sequences for titles such asThe Matrix Reloaded,Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and300. Leitch shared his excitement aboutKung Fuand Donnie Yen:
“I’m obviously really passionate about both those things. And you know, kung fu, martial arts is a huge part of my life, has been since I was a kid. I’m a huge fan of Donnie and his work and his films. And so the potential of that is really, really interesting. We’re in the development phase with Donnie and it’s really exciting, and it just feels like a big international franchise potential with Donnie as Caine. So I’m really excited about it, but again, it’s in development and we’re making it happen.”
‘Kung Fu’ Updates Are Coming Down the Line
SinceKung Fuis invery early stages, not even the title is set in stone. Because of that, details of the story won’t be revealed for a while, and Leitch also is yet to announce additional cast members or who will write the script. One thing it’s safe to say, though:Kung Fuwill feature somejaw-dropping action sequencesthat we’ve come to associate with Leitch’s work. But will fans be able to experience these scenes in larger-than-life IMAX 70mm? When Weintraub asked if that was a possibility, Leitch said:
“Well, you sort of nailed it withKung Fubecause the palate of that world and, you remember, that it’s the epic landscapes and the things that really lend themselves to IMAX are all sort of embedded in the world ofKung Fufrom the original. And so that’s something that’s been sort of percolating in our heads. I’m not gonna commit to the IMAX cameras just yet, but it would be an honor always to use them because the format is amazing and 70 millimeter is amazing. Haven’t had that opportunity yet.”
While we wait forKung Futo come to life,we can get hyped up forThe Fall Guy. The story centers around an unemployed stuntman who gets thrown into an adventure when the star of an action movie goes missing. The movie is based on a 1980s TV series, and the cast also featuresEmily Blunt(Oppenheimer),Aaron Taylor-Johnson(Kraven the Hunter),Stephanie Hsu(Everything Everywhere All At Once),Hannah Waddingham(Ted Lasso) andTeresa Palmer(Lights Out).
The Fall Guypremieres in theaters on May 3. You can watch the trailer below and look for our full interview with Leitch soon.
The Fall Guy
Colt Seavers is a stuntman who left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health. He’s drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie, which is being directed by his ex, goes missing.
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