(Shit just got real...at least more real than the first movie.)
I know what you're thinking, "They're making another Never Back Down movie?"
The answer is "yes," only this time around the studio is gearing the film towards MMA fans and not the popped collar American Eagle pink polo shirt sporting crowd of its predecessor, which earned $41-million at the box office.
They've made some steps in the right direction by hiring longtime martial arts practitioner Michael Jai White to direct this darker installment and to give it what he calls "more of a 'The Dark Knight' feel" and less of a "Melrose Place vibe." White knows first hand what that entails, considering he starred as mob boss Gambol in the acclaimed second film of the Chris Nolan helmed Batman franchise.
Also adding some credibility and substance to the film will be 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo, who will write part of the score for, star in and help choreograph fight scenes for the movie, UFC heavyweight Todd Duffee, who will play one of the fighters in the film and 10th Planet black belt instructor Scott Epstein, who will do double-duty as the movie's lead as well as a fight coordinator.
White, who played the lead roles in 1995's Tyson, 1997's Spawn and 2009's Black Dynamite, will also be in the movie, playing the role of the main MMA instructor.
Principle shooting begins next month in New Orleans and could wrap up as early as November.
No release date has been set yet for the film.
Later this week, we'll have an exclusive interview with the movie's lead, Scott Epstein.
Source: http://www.cagepotato.com/scott-epstein ... odd-duffee