Lionsgate has acquired worldwide rights (excluding Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao) to “The Furious”, the breakout fan favorite of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which premiered to raucous applause and multiple standing ovations in the festival’s Midnight Madness section. The studio is planning a theatrical release for the film in 2026.
The film is produced by Bill Kong, the legendary producer behind “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Hero,” and “House of Flying Daggers.” Early in the film’s development Kong joined forces with XYZ Films, producers behind The Raid franchise, with the aim of making the definitive martial arts action film of the past ten years.
“The Furious” revives the golden age of Hong Kong action filmmaking, emphasizing authentic martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, and real-world intensity from an international ensemble of elite fighters. In “The Furious,” when his daughter Rainy is abducted, humble tradesman Wang Wei is thrust into a deadly underworld of corruption and violence. His only ally is Navin, a relentless journalist haunted by his own past. Together, they fight their way through an international criminal network in a desperate bid to save Rainy and uncover the truth.
“The Furious” is the feature debut from veteran action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki (“Rurouni Kenshin,” “Snake Eyes”), who is also set to team with Donnie Yen as he reprises his Caine character for Lionsgate. “The Furious” was written by Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zhilong, Shum Kwan Sin, and Frank Hui, and produced by Bill Kong of Edko Films Ltd., alongside Hui and Shan Tam. Executive producers include Nate Bolotin, Todd Brown, Maxime Cottray, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films, with Michael J. Werner and Xu Tianfu.
The international cast features Xie Miao, Joe Taslim (“The Raid”), Yang Enyou, Brian Le, Yayan Ruhian (“John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum”), Jija Yanin (“Chocolate”), Joey Iwanaga, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul.
The deal was negotiated by Brandon Hill for Lionsgate and Pip Ngo for XYZ Films, and Michael J. Werner on behalf of Edko Films and the producers. The film was financed by Edko Films Ltd., which will release day and date with Lionsgate in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao in 2026.
“I am thrilled that Lionsgate has embraced ‘The Furious,’” said Kong. “I believe they are the best company to handle this picture. I am looking forward to working closely with them.
“There’s nothing more exciting than having ‘The Furious’ distributed by Lionsgate — it means that great action cinema will reach audiences in the best possible way! The adventure of The Furious is just about to begin, and I can’t wait for audiences around the world to jump on this ride — to be thrilled, to hold their breath, and to roar with excitement!” said Tanigaki.
“We have had tremendous success with several films from the TIFF Midnight Madness programming—including ‘Sisu’ and ‘The Blackening’—in recent years, and we were similarly blown away by ‘The Furious,’” said Lauren Bixby, EVP & Co-Head, Acquisitions & Co-Productions for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “This movie redefines martial arts action—it’s incredibly entertaining and engrossing, and we can’t wait to share it with audiences next year.”
Recent titles from XYZ Films include “Havoc,” directed by Gareth Evans and starring Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker; “Something Beautiful,” the visual album from Miley Cyrus which world premiered at Tribeca; “Over Your Dead Body,” starring Jason Segel, Samara Weaving, Juliette Lewis and Timothy Olyphant; “The Edge of Normal,” starring Chloë Grace-Moretz and Rupert Friend, directed by Carlota Pereda; the SXSW standout thriller “Hallow Road,” directed by Babak Anvari and starring Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys; “In Cold Light,” starring Maika Monroe and Troy Kotsur; “Banquet,” starring Meghann Fahy and directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia; and “The Ritual,” a true-story exorcism thriller starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens.
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Lionsgate (NYSE: LION) is one of the world’s leading standalone, pure play, publicly-traded content companies. It brings together diversified motion picture and television production and distribution businesses, a world-class portfolio of valuable brands and franchises, a premier talent management and production powerhouse at 3 Arts Entertainment and a more than 20,000-title film and television library, all driven by Lionsgate’s bold and entrepreneurial culture.