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MERENTAU and THE RAID: REDEMPTION star Iko Uwais has joined the cast of Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut MAN OF TAI CHI.

The film, currently in production, stars Tiger Chen (HOUSE OF FURY) as a martial artist on a spiritual quest who learns of the positive and negative aspects of life while he is in a new place.

Reeves will be playing the villain of the film while Karen Mok/Morris will co-star as a female police officer. As for Iwais, he will be taking on Chen in the climatic portion of the film. The film will mark Iwais’ debut in an international production and it will be interesting to see Iwais use his trademark Silat against Chen, a kung fu and tai chi stylist.

The film is being shot on location in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Macau. The script was written by Michael G. Cooney and Yuen Woo-Ping, who worked with Reeves on THE MATRIX trilogy, serves as the film’s action director.

MAN OF TAI CHI is scheduled for release in 2013.