The shooting has been completed on the project that began life as Tekken: Story Of X and recently wrapped in Bangkok after a fast paced high impact shoot filled with some very impressive slam bam action. The film was initially announced as a Tekken prequel, then as a stand-alone project, and now it would appear to have possibly returned to its Tekken roots.
The film stars rising star Kane Kosugi, son of 80’s Ninja legend Sho Kosugi and an action star in his own rights with nice high profile turns in DOA: Dead or Alive, Muscle Heat and most recently Ninja: Shadow of a Tear where he got to showcase his phenomenal physicality to great effect, as well as showing his dramatic side. The new film sees Kane looking mean and moody as he battles his way through the underworld of Bangkok.
The film was originally in development as Tekken: Rise of the Tournament, then just as shooting began it was announced as Tekken: A Man Called X, with another announcement a few days later stating it wasn't anything to do with Tekken, but would just be called A Man Called X.
Now word from the Thailand shoot hints at the involvement of two very familiar genre veterans in the shape of Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa and Gary Daniels, both of whom just happened to appear in the first Tekken movie... although it could of course just be a coincidence! The film also stars UK model turned actress Charlotte Kirk and the 'Fighting Dutchman' himself, Ron Smoorenburg (who appeared in Hong Kong's unofficial take on Tekken, Andrew Lau's The Avenging Fist). The film's fight choreography was handled by Brahim Achabakhe, most recently seen in action battling Tiger Chen in Man of Tai Chi, and behind the scenes on Ninja Shadow of a Tear.
The film was originally announced during development as a project for Ong Bak & Tom Yum Goong director Prachya Pinkaew, and while his name has been repeatedly linked to the project, we would like to confirm once and for all that Prachya is not involved in the project in any way. We spoke to the main man himself and while he has a number of projects in development, he did confirm that he is not involved with this project..
So just who is the director of the film, and why is his name being shrouded in mystery? Everyone involved is keeping quiet as to just who the man in the directors chair might be.
Answers on an old-fashioned postcard please to the Impact offices....
