Hong Kong action film Stuntman will be released in the UK by Cineasia, and the first trailer has landed too.
Much like recent action comedy The Fall Guy, Stuntman is a Hong Kong movie set in its own film industry. Starring Stephen Tung Wai, it’s about a respected stuntman who’s forced to step away from the spotlight following an accident – something that also happened to Ryan Gosling’s lead in The Fall Guy, thinking about it.
At any rate, Stuntman is getting a UK release courtesy of Trinity Cineasia, and the distributor has handily put out an official synopsis, which goes like this:
Lee Sam (Stephen Tung Wai) was the undisputed king of stunt choreography during the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema in the 80s. After a devastating accident, Sam has stepped away from the industry for 30 years. His old friend, a veteran director, persuaded Sam to work as the stunt choreographer on his last film. However, the film stars Wai (Philip Ng) – Sam’s former stunt crew member who has become a famous action star. As Sam returns to the world he once dominated, he must confront his past and overcome his personal conflict with Wai to deliver an epic final action spectacle for the director’s swan song…
The cast also includes Terrance Lau, Cecilia Choi, Rachel Leung, Lam Yiu Sing, Terry Zou, Stephanie Che, Yen To and Max Cheung.
Stuntmen-turned-filmmakers Albert and Herbert Leung drew on their own experiences to direct the film. The screenplay was written by Anastasia Tsang and Yip Wai-ping.
Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, said in a statement to Deadline, “Following the success of Twilight Of The Warriors, the biggest success at the UK box office of a Hong Kong film for over 10 years, we are keeping up the fight with a debut from a terrific duo, Albert Leung and Herbert Leung, from the studio who brought Twilight Of The Warriors, Entertaining Power. It marks yet another step in our commitment to bringing out great films from up-and-coming directors from Hong Kong, which is teeming with creativity”.
One of the longest ongoing debates in the film industry is the lack of awards for stunt performers. Directors like David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, both stuntmen turned filmmakers, have long advocated for the performers who put their life on the line deserve a category at the Oscars.
Arguably the most famous stuntman (and actor, and director, and producer…) is Jackie Chan, who’s broken almost every bone in his body over the course of his career. Incidentally, if you haven’t had the pleasure, 1999 documentary Jackie Chan: My Stunts is a fascinating insight into Chan’s creative process, from breaking down his fight choreography to revealing the secrets of selling punches and kicks onscreen. It also features a lengthy fight demonstration from the much-missed Brad Allan – we wrote a tribute to him in 2021.
Stuntman will be released in UK cinemas on the 11th October, check the Trinity Cineasia website for showtimes. Here’s the trailer for the film…
