French trio join Jeeja for Rittikrai’s latest?

Throughout 2008 there have been quiet rumblings of a new film project that Thailand’s top action director has been working on. At least two members of France’s Team Tri-X stunt team have been in Thailand training with ONG BAK action director Panna Rittikrai for what looks to be CHOCOLATE star Jeeja Vismitananda’s second action film.

Top image (left to right): Team Tri-X members Kazu, Newik and Alaa.

Team Tri-X is made up of Eric Cullet (aka “Newik”), Alaa Oumouzoune (aka “Alaa”) and “Kazu.” It is the latter fellow, a Vietnamese-Frenchman who is rumored to be starring opposite Jeeja in an as yet untitled Panna Rittikrai film that is described as a “romantic action movie.” ONG BAK director Prachya Pinkaew is producing. The news broke on our forums courtesy of member “king hades” who translated a TV report from MCOT News.

Jeeja Vismitananda in CHOCOLATE (2008).

It’s worth taking a look at these three French stunt actors. After the team made a memorable TV appearance with Jet Li while the martial arts legend was promoting UNLEASHED in France (see video), Newik and Alaa were picked up by Pinkaew to appear in the Thai superhero actioner MERCURY MAN (2006) which was action choreographed by Rittikrai. The pair, along with Kazu must have made a good impression on Rittikrai because he has been training with them ever since.

Rittikrai is well known for taking an unusually long time to train his stunt actors for fighting roles. Tony Jaa had worked under him for years before emerging as the star of ONG BAK. Jeeja spent at least two years training with him. The Tri-X members have been training with Rittikrai for this new film for several years already. Kazu, Newik, Rittikrai and other members of his stunt team were featured on a TV program in early 2008 to offer a preview of some of the stunt work that we can expect in this new film.

Panna Rittikrai and stunt team members featuring Kazu and Newik on Thai TV in February, 2008.

What is remarkable is that all of Rittikrai’s star stunt actors have proven they have sufficient skill to perform rehearsed choreography for TV and live audiences. In the following video except taken from a guest appearance on a Taiwanese TV program to promote CHOCOLATE, Jeeja displays some of her impressive screen fighting skills. I should offer a word of caution regarding this video though. Most of it consists of some very obnoxious comedy from several young gentlemen. I have set the video to start four minutes into the clip and Jeeja’s fighting only lasts about 80 seconds. I recommend skipping the rest of the video.

Taiwanese TV broadcast with guest appearance by Jeeja Vismitananda while promoting the release of CHOCOLATE in 2008. She puts on a short fighting performance beginning from the four-minute mark.

Jeeja Vismitananda’s first martial arts movie, CHOCOLATE, is coming to the U.S. via select theatrical engagements on Feb. 6th, to be followed on DVD and Blu-ray come February 10th (see related article).

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