Let’s look forward to the future: new fights, new stories, new faces. Kiai!
Let’s face it: 2016 is very good for new kick-ass movies, especially if you are a fan of Steven Seagal… kidding. We’re going to see really awesome sequels to Ip Man, Boyka and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. So, pack your popcorn, movie lovers!
Here is the list of most anticipated martial arts movies of 2016:
Release Date: 22 January (USA), 1 March (China)
Ip Man 3
The concluding installment in the hit martial arts trilogy Ip Man 3, set in Hong Kong circa 1959, where Donnie Yen is forced to protect his son’s school from thugs intent on taking over the property as well as having to deal with a headstrong rival. Do you need more? Oh, wait! Mike Tyson as a crime boss will go mano a mano with Ip Man.
Release Date: 8 February (China), 26 February (USA)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would be returning to screens 15 years after its initial release. Michelle Yeoh is back in action, joined by the man Donnie Yen and Yuen Woo-ping as a fighting choreographer. See it on Netflix and select IMAX theatres on 26 February.
Release Date: February (China), 16 March (Europe)
Skiptrace
Directed by Renny Harlin and starring Jackie Chan, Johnny Knoxville and Fan Bingbing, Skiptrace‘s story, based on an idea by Chan, centers on a good Hong Kong detective whose niece gets into trouble with a crime syndicate run by a man the detective has been chasing for a decade. The cop is forced to track down the one person who can help save the niece — a fast-talking American gambler — and bring him to Hong Kong after a trek across China.
Release Date: 2016
Never Back Down 3
After the success of the second part producers gave another chance to Michael Jai White to prove himself as a director of action movies. Set in Thailand Never Back Down 3 will introduce The No. 5-ranked UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett.
Release Date: 2016
Boyka: Undisputed
Scott Adkins has one more spinning flip thing at the can with the role that threw him into the spotlight. Boyka: Undisputed aka Undisputed 4 will be released very soon with all the acrobatic yet brutal action you could possibly want at this stage. BUT!!! Support the movie and DON’T download it illegally!
Release Date: 2016
Kickboxer: Vengeance
Remake of a classic Kickboxer movie of 1989 with Alain Moussi, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dave Bautista, Gina Carano and George St. Pierre. Film is directed by and tells the same story but with different actors… except JCVD. We all barely waiting for the release to check out again how Kurt’s skills will carry him through his showdown with Tong Po.
Release Date: 2016
Hard Target 2
Hard Target 2 united busy-bee Scott Adkins with thai lady dragon Jija Yanin. John Woo is producing and this is a good sign. Film is about a disgraced mixed martial arts fighter forced into a deadly cat-and-mouse game and hunted through the jungles of Southeast Asia.
Release Date: 8 January (USA)
Full Love
Hopefully we will finally see the Van Damme’s latest project that he wrote, directed, and is starring in along with his two children, Kristopher and Bianca. there isn’t an official plot available, but it’s described as “based on a true story, based in another reality” and “about love, friendship, and dedication.” Fingers crossed.
Release Date: 29 July 2016
Jason Bourne
The much-awaited installment of the action spy film will see the light on July 29. Damon revealed that the amnesiac super-spy, who’s been off the grid since 2004, will resume his search for answers about his past. Not that the quest seems to be bringing him much joy: “We find him in a dark and tortured place,” said Damon. New characters will include Alicia Vikander as a cyberspecialist, Tommy Lee Jones as a tough CIA agent, and Vincent Cassel as a villain.
Release Date: 2016
Beyond Skyline
Iko Uwais faces Frank Grillo! The sci-fi action from Liam O’Donnell who worked as a producer on Skyline movie of 2010 and now decided to direct himself. The story is simple: a tough-as-nails detective embarks on a relentless pursuit to free his son from a nightmarish alien warship.
Release Date: 2016
Asian Connection
The new action film from Daniel Zirilli with Steven Seagal and Michael Jai White as leads. A story about two American expatriates, Jack and Sam, who unwittingly steal a drug lord’s money when they rob a series of banks in Southeast Asia and now become the target of the gang’s vengeance.
Release Date: 2016
Killing Salazar
Another Steven Seagal’s movie but with Georges St-Pierre and Luke Goss on board. Don’t think last two will get a lot of screen time as Seagal is very greedy. Plot: an elite team of DEA agents are assigned to protect a dangerous drug lord and take refuge in a luxury hotel while they await extraction. They soon find themselves at the center of an ambush as the drug lord’s former associates launch an explosive assault on the hotel.
Release Date: 2016
Four Towers
New film from Giorgio Serafini with interesting story where Steven Seagal plays billionaire businessman Kirk Bronson! Rutger Hauer plays a mysterious criminal mastermind, who partners with a disenchanted woman in a nefarious plot to steal a massive cache of gold from her father.
Release Date: 2016
Cyborg Nemesis
The new Albert Pyun‘s project with Steven Seagal, Sasha Mitchell and Olivier Gruner on board. Don’t think we can expect something worth to watch, but let’s wait… who knows…
Release Date: 2016
Beyond the Game
Erken Ialgashev’s project unites big names such as Eric Roberts, Danny Trejo, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Michael Jai White, Kevin Sorbo, Mark Dacascos, Martin Kove, Casper Van Dien, Billy Zane and Armand Assante. Like his previous movies Blizhniy Boy or Lost Warrior this film will be another try to unite actors together giving them small ordinary roles. I’m wondered why Bolo is not on the list.
Release Date: 2016
Ultimate Justice
Ultimate Justice has a fantastic cast: Mark Dacascos, Mike Moeller, Matthias Hues and Wing Tsung Sifu Henry Mueller. The film is about a team of former elite special ops soldiers who drawn back into action when the family of one of their own is attacked. Mike Moeller also serves as a fight choreographer.
Release Date: 2016
Showdown in Manila
Showdown In Manila is produced and lead by Alexander Nevsky, but more important it is directed by Mark Dacascos. Cast includes such stars as Tia Carrere, Cynthia Rothrock, Casper Van Dien, Cary-Hirouyuki Tagawa, Don Wilson and Oliver Gruner. Al Dacascos serves as a fighting choreographer.
Rumoured
Rush Hour 4
Producer Arthur Sarkissian has confirmed that Rush Hour 4 is presently in development, with original stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. He is trying to do it closer to how he did first Rush Hour, more down to earth, more gritty, introduce two new characters and make it real the way the first one was.
The Karate Kid 2
The last news is The Karate Kid sequel script is still being written as Will Smith isn’t comfortable with it. That’s good as it should be at least as good as the first one.
Blood and Bone 2
Michael Jai White teases fans with promises but better later than never. So we are waiting…
Kill Bill 3
Quentin Tarantino once again teases The Bride’s possible return to cinemas. “I’ve been very non-committal about it, and I’m not committing to it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if The Bride made one more appearance before the whole thing is said and done. I’ve been talking to Uma about it just a little bit. Some of the stuff that I’ve written and never made it into the movie that maybe I could use and thinking, ‘OK, now, thirteen years later, what would be going on with Sofie Fatale, what would be going on with Elle Driver?'”
Under Siege 3
Last time Steven Seagal revealed that he’d want the next film to be set in Russia. Not because Russians tend to be Hollywood villains of choice, either. “I think that America and Russia should be great allies and great friends. And can be. What I want to do is write a movie, which I’ve sort of already done, where Russian special forces and American special forces work together to combat terrorism”, Seagal revealed, adding that “the only way for us to prosper as a human race is for us to get along. There are hundreds of millions of people that want that”.
This list of most anticipated martial arts movies 2016 will probably change as the year goes on, but based on what we know right now, this is it.
