Roel Reiné

RZA: Bringing a hard Reine to 'Fists' sequel...

28th November 2014, IMPACTONLINE

Will 'RZA' provide some hard-hitting action and 'Roel' with the punches in the sequel 'Man with the Iron Fists 2: Sting of the Scorpion'?

Rapper turned actor/director RZA has been known by many names, but to martial-arts movie fans he's better known as The Man with the Iron Fists. RZA is a lifelong fan of Hong Kong and Taiwanese Kung Fu Cinema and has referenced the genre that helped form his outlook on life and career in everything from the name of the Wu Tang Clan and several of its members, through the songs and music videos... and finally through film, writing, directing and starring in the original Man with the Iron Fists a few years ago.

The first film was met with a mixed reaction from audiences and critics, but we gave it the thumbs up for being a genuine love letter to Kung Fu cinema, and feel that his original vision for the film was affected by things beyond his control and some mis-marketing.

During production, RZA spoke of his plans for multiple movies set within the martial world he had created for the film, and the upcoming release of Universal's Man with the Iron Fists 2: Sting of the Scorpion sees a welcome return to the world he created.

While RZA returns as both leading man and scriptwriter, this time round he has entrusted the directorial reigns to veteran action director Roel Reine (the Death Race prequels, the upcoming Admiral). While the first film was shot in China, this time round Thailand fills in for the forbidden kingdom in an adventure that sees the Blacksmith (RZA) finding himself up to his neck in trouble when he arrives at a mining town looking for work. The cast for the sequel includes Dustin Nguyen (Once Upon A Time in Vietnam, The Rebel), Eugenia Yuan (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2), the great Cary Tagawa, Carl Ng from Point of Entry, Simon Yin, Tai Chi master Ocean Hou (the Shaolin monk from Man of Tai Chi) and returning in a flashback cameo, we guess (Spoiler: They died in the first film!) the Gemini Twins played by Andrew Lin (Black Sheep Affair) and Grace Huang from Bloodtraffik and Cold War.

Casting for the first and second film was handled by Impact's own Mike Leeder.

Dutch Director Roel Reine has built quite a name for himself amongst action movie fans with such projects as Steven Seagal's Pistol Whipped, the Death Race prequels with Luke Goss, The Marine 2, Scorpion King 3, 12 Rounds 2, Seal Team Eight: Behind Enemy Lines. 2014 has also seen him returning to his roots in Dutch speaking cinema with the upcoming release of The Admiral/Michiel de Ruyter starring Charles Dance and Rutger Hauer. The film is the second most expensive movie in Dutch cinema history, its a historical take set during the 17th Century, a  time when the Netherlands was under attack by England, France and Germany and rapidly approaching being torn apart by a possible civil war. But one man, Michiel de Ruyter could make the difference and save the nation and defeat the British armada in a massive sea battle.

Reine began his career in the Netherlands, directing various TV series before winning the Golden Calf, the Dutch equivalent of the Oscar for his first theatrical feature The Delivery. Encouraged by fellow Dutchman and maverick film-maker Paul Verhoeven, Reine made the move stateside and has since directed more than fofteen movies for such companies as Universal, 20th Century Fox, Sony and Lionsgate becoming one of the most sought after action directors, while also serving as DOP and A-Camera operator for his movies.