‘Ong Bak 2′ opens in theaters, Jaa eyes Hollywood

By Mark Pollard | Published October 28, 2009

ONG BAK 2

The Associate Press reports that Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa, whose latest movie ONG BAK 2 opened in select theaters last Friday, is suggesting that it’s a “matter of time” before he appears in a Hollywood production.

“I’m happy to know that there are people in the States who like my movies. Hollywood is the capital for the movie industry. It would be interesting to go there. It’s a matter of time,” said Jaa in response to written question from the AP.

ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING is a prequel of sorts to ONG BAK as it goes back in time to 16th-century Thailand to reveal the origin of the sacred relic that Jaa was tasked with retrieving in the previous film. Jaa now plays the orphaned son of a nobleman who is stripped of his station after the brutal murder of his parents. After training in martial arts he sets out for revenge.

The film is another showcase for Jaa’s amazing screen fighting talents and displays a much more brutal and wider array of fighting styles than its predecessor. It was directed by Jaa in his directorial debut until late in production when he got in over his head and briefly walked off set. After regaining his composure, Jaa returned and his mentor and ONG BAK action director Panna Rittikrai stepped in to direct the rest of the film.

Last month, Magnolia Pictures took the unusual step of pre-releasing ONG BAK 2 on several video-on-demand services including Amazon.com, Xbox Live and digital cable where it was being offered for limited viewing. The English-subtitled film premiered in 10 theaters last Friday and earned $26,500 over the weekend according to Box Office Mojo.

In contrast, Magnolia opened the first ONG BAK with English dubbing in 387 theaters four years ago and it earned $1.3 million on its opening weekend. The Weinstein Company had originally acquired the sequel and later sold the rights to Magnolia Pictures.

Jaa is currently finishing production on ONG BAK 3 which Sahamongkol Film originally hoped to have completed in time for release before the end of the year. But according to Twitch, producers have already pushed the release date forward to early 2010. The film will be a direct sequel to ONG BAK 2 and feature additional fights between Jaa and his co-star and fellow martial arts actor Dan Chupong.

Source: Associated Press via SF Gate

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  • Phillip
    I want to purchase Ong Bak 2. When is it going to be produced in English?
  • dninja616
    it's already out subbed you know.....
  • websheriff
    WEB SHERIFF
    Who You Gonna Call
    Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
    Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
    websheriff@websheriff.com
    www.websheriff.com

    Hi Mark, (and everyone)

    On behalf of Magnolia Pictures and the movie’s producers, many thanks for plugging "Ong Bak 2" ... .. thanks also, on behalf of the distributors and producers, for not posting any pirate copies or non-trailer clips of “Ong Bak 2” and if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, previews, then the official trailer for “Ong Bak 2” is available for fans and bloggers to post/ host / share etc at http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/ongbak2 ... .. for further details of on-line promotions for this movie and Magnolia releases generally, check-out www.magpictures.com and their official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/MagnoliaPictures .

    Thanks again for your plug.

    Regards,

    WEB SHERIFF
  • EricTheRed
    I agree with Travis. The kind of stunts they do in Thailand can't be done in Hollywood which is exactly why I hope that Tony Jaa never comes here to make movies. Why would you want a watered down version of a Tony Jaa movie? To watch him struggle with English? I hope he stays in Thailand doing great stunts and fight scenes until he can't physically do it anymore. Then he can come to Hollywood and make "The Spy Next Door 2". :)
  • My fear with a Hollywood Tony Jaa would be losing that raw brutal style that his Thai flicks have. Watching the outtakes from any of Panna's movies, those stunt actors are ridiculous and I doubt they'd be able to get the same kinds of shots, because of insurance if nothing else. I could be wrong, but that would be my fear.
  • tikkiexx
    i agree with Mark. id rather see him do a movie with a Donnie Yen or Lee Wu Ping before he does something in America. its getting harder and harder to make a splash in America as an action movie star. martial arts or otherwise.
  • Weinco had nothing to do with the first Ong Bak. They handled Tom Yum Goong and redubbed and edited it as "The Protector" as "presented" by QT. I can understand why you would think so, though, since Besson decided to not only pull a Harvey on Ong Bak 1, but also refused to let anyone outside of Thailand see the original cut. However, the folks at Magnolia didn't like me equating them or Besson with Harvey-even though they tried to rip off customers with a dub-titled "Let the Right One In"-so they actually called me on their dime to convince me to give OB a chance, which is probably the only reason I saw it, since that shit was long-distance, and I figured I owed them something for that. Anyway, none of Jaa's flicks make money here, even by arthouse standards, so I don't see why they'll hire him, especially since Hollywood still loves its shakey camera work.
  • That's the second time I've made that mistake. For some reason I have it hardwired in my brain that TWC released ONG BAK. Thanks for pointing it out.

    I don't see Jaa realistically being a success in Hollywood either. There is too much working against him. He's at the point where Jackie Chan was back in the 1970s. Chan wasn't ready for Hollywood then. I'd rather see Jaa appear in a Hong Kong action film, or perhaps go up against Johnny Nguyen again in a Thai-Vietnamese co-production.
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