ITN Distribution has secured North American distribution rights to the action thriller Showdown in Manila, the directorial debut film from Iron Chef host Mark Dacascos. The company has pinned January 19 for a theatrical bow with a digital release to follow four days later.
Showdown in Manila just had premiere screening for international buyers in Cannes. Check out the international trailer.
U.S. distribution company Lightning Entertainment will represent Showdown in Manila at the upcoming Cannes Film Market in May. Deal was negotiated by Lightning’s Co-President Joe Dickstein and Alexander Nevsky.
International action movie is directed by Mark Dacascos, produced by Alexander Nevsky through his production company Hollywood Storm and executive produced by Andrzej Bartkowiak. It has already been successfully released theatrically in Russia/CIS in February collected over 41,000,000 rubles.
Showdown in Manila has “Expendables” type cast of recognizable action stars such as Casper Van Dien, Matthias Hues, Olivier Gruner, Cynthia Rothrock, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Tia Carrere, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Robert Madrid and Mark Dacascos.
Alexander Nevsky is a former Mr. Universe and an established movie star in Russia, his credits include Moscow Heat, Undisputed, Treasure Raiders, Somewhere, Black Rose (which he directed) and the upcoming Maximum Impact.
Nevsky represents Russia as a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Showdown In Manila will be released on DVD and Blu-ray loaded with special features on March 24.
Check out the Russian version of trailer.
Check out the first trailer to Showdown in Manilla movie.
Showdown in Manila already filming and making a lot of buzz on social networks. Mark Dacascos invited his father Al Dacascos to work on fight choreography and Sonny Sison on stunts. So far things are moving smoothly for Expendables-esque film.
Check out the gallery below:
Here is what actors tweet:
Mark Dacascos: Loving my job!
Casper Van Dien: I am honored to be directed by this man.
Matthias Hues: Last smiles. Its about to get ugly, fists flying, bullets and heat.
Matthias Hues: Taking a breather before plowing down the street chased by Hulk Alexander Nevsky and Pi’s finest Casper van Dien.
Matthias Hues: For now we talking, well more like gawking ……tomorrow is another story
Nevsky: On the set of SHOWDOWN IN MANILA, big fun to work with Mark Dacascos and Casper Van Dien!
Nevsky: first week of shooting’s going great!
Nevsky: Finally! I’m in Manila with Mark Dacascos and Casper Van Dien, we’ll start filming SHOWDOWN IN MANILA tomorrow!
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa: ON MY WAY TO FILM #SHOWDOWNINMANILA FOR MY FRIEND Mark Dacascos.
Casper Van Dien: Studying at the pool. Day before we start filming.
Nevsky: SHOWDOWN IN MANILA is coming! Principal photography will start in 2 weeks, can’t wait!
Mark Dacascos and Monsour del Rosario caught up with each other yesterday March 2, 2015 (Manila time) at the auditions and production meet at San Antonio Village in Makati, for the martial arts movie flick to be filmed in the country, “Showdown in Manila.” The auditions lasted longer than expected. Actor and Taekwondo black belt Ian T. Ignacio got a role.
Here is what Mark said in his interview to Impact Online: “The transition from actor to director feels really good, a natural progression. I have a vision of what I’d like for this film and am blessed to be surrounded by a very experienced and talented cast and crew. I trust them and when I need help, because I will, I know they have my back. My wish is that we give the audience an entertaining time; so that after they watch our film they feel it was 90 minutes well spent. I think our cast is fantastically eclectic, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll all fit together up on the big screen. In Showdown in Manila I’m playing a supporting role which shoots for two days. I hope to get that to down to one day so that we have more time for the finale. We shall see.”
Looks like Mark Dacascos joins forces with Andrzej Bartkowiak on Showdown in Manila. It marks the second directorial project for Dacascos, following unreleased Changing Lives.
Showdown in Manila will also star Casper Van Dien, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Olivier Gruner, Matthias Hues, Cynthia Rothrock, Alexander Nevsky and Don Wilson. Pretty nice cast, ah?
Film will begin production in February 2015.
Stay tuned for more details!
