Vietnamese studios BHD and Vietnam Media Corp have unveiled international sales for their upcoming historical martial arts epic actioner The Last Secret of the First Emperor, currently being shopped at the Cannes Marché. The film will star Vietnamese-American actor and martial artist Johnny Tri Nguyen (The Rebel, Da 5 Bloods).
Acclaimed director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh is set to helm the project. Binh is known for the award-winning war drama Song of the Stork (2002), which sold in over 25 territories, and The Floating Lives (2010), then Vietnam’s highest-grossing arthouse release. His recent work includes the romantic drama Secrets of the Wind (2019).
Johnny Tri Nguyen will also serve as the film’s martial arts action director. With a career spanning both the U.S. and Asia, Nguyen is best known for his roles in The Rebel (2007), Clash (2009) and The Protector (2005) aka Tom Yum Goong opposite Tony Jaa, in addition to his role in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (2020).
BHD promises a film packed with intense martial arts sequences, but also rich with themes of family, romance, sacrifice, and national heritage. Set against the breathtaking scenery of Vietnam’s Ninh Binh province—with support from local authorities—the film will immerse audiences in a narrative steeped in Vietnamese history and legend.
The story centers on seven warriors tasked with a dangerous, top-secret mission: to transport 99 coffins as a strategic deception to mislead enemy forces. Their real objective, however, is to protect the burial site of Vietnam’s first emperor and preserve its secrets for eternity.
Currently in pre-production, the film is scheduled to shoot over 60 days in November and December 2025, with a planned release in the second quarter of 2026.
“There’s something very special about Vietnamese martial arts,” Nguyen shared. “Throughout history, Vietnam has faced immense challenges from powerful foes. Our martial arts carry that legacy, and I want to reveal that secret to the world. We’re putting great care into historical accuracy—from costumes and sets to cultural details.”
Stay tuned as we learn more.
SOURCE: Deadline
