UPDATE: Japanese action icon Tak Sakaguchi (Re:Born) is officially joining forces with Indonesian martial arts superstar Iko Uwais in the upcoming action film Pendekar: Warrior, where the two genre favorites will square off in what promises to be one of the year’s biggest martial arts showdowns.
Sakaguchi, best known for cult classics such as Versus, Death Trance, Re:Born, and the Crazy Samurai Musashi films, has been cast as the film’s primary antagonist.
For martial arts fans, the pairing is especially exciting. Uwais revolutionized the genre through The Raid films and has continued building an international career with projects including The Night Comes for Us, Expend4bles, Ash, and the upcoming Road House 2. Sakaguchi, meanwhile, has earned a devoted following for his intense physical performances and innovative fight choreography, making him one of Japan’s premier action stars.
With Uwais and Sakaguchi finally sharing the screen as enemies, Pendekar: Warrior is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated martial arts films currently in production. If it delivers on the promise of its star power, fans can expect a brutal, technically impressive showdown worthy of both actors’ legendary reputations.
The film is currently slated to start production in the fourth quarter of 2026.
SOURCE: Variety
UPDATE: Pendekar: Warrior has officially entered pre-production. Take your first look below.
SOURCE: Variety
Indonesian action star Iko Uwais (Timur) is set to headline a new martial arts thriller titled Pendekar: Warrior, marking a return to the traditional Silat fighting style that helped launch his global career.
In Warrior, Uwais plays a former elite Silat expert who, after being released from prison, hopes to leave his violent past behind. His plans unravel when a Malaysian crime syndicate takes over his neighborhood in Jakarta, threatening the local community and the people he cares about. Drawn back into conflict, he becomes the key figure standing between the syndicate and those they seek to control.
The film is directed by John Radel, an Australian cinematographer and producer making his solo directorial debut. Radel and Uwais have previously collaborated on projects in various capacities, building a working relationship ahead of this feature.
Production is planned to begin this summer in Indonesia, with the shoot fully based in the country using local crews, locations, and martial arts performers. Uwais will also serve as an executive producer alongside Ryan Susanto through his own Uwais Pictures banner.
On the production side, the project unites veteran Indonesian producer Delon Tio of Nation Pictures with Erika and Nick North of Yeti Entertainment, and action producer Mike Leeder of Red Packet Media. International sales are being handled by K-Movie Entertainment.
Warrior is the first film to come from a new collaboration between Asia Media Alliance Group and Nation Pictures, aimed at developing genre films across Southeast Asia for the global market. A broader slate of action and horror projects is expected to be announced in the near future.
SOURCE: Variety