Indonesian action icons are gearing up for another major global push.
Action stars and martial arts veterans Iko Uwais (Timur) and Joe Taslim (Mortal Kombat II) are leading a new wave of Indonesian genre filmmaking as K-Movie Entertainment arrives at the Cannes Film Market with a focused slate built around high-octane action and international appeal. The lineup continues the momentum behind Indonesia’s growing presence in global action cinema and places two of its most recognizable stars front and center.
At the forefront of the slate is Pendekar: Warrior, a silat-driven action feature headlined by Uwais. The film follows a former elite fighter who is pulled back into conflict while protecting a child tied to a dangerous conspiracy. Designed as a showcase for Uwais’ signature martial arts style, the project is currently in pre-production and aims to deliver the kind of brutal choreography that made the actor an international name through films like The Raid and Headshot.
Taslim, meanwhile, is attached to an Indonesian remake of the acclaimed Korean thriller The Man From Nowhere. The project will reunite the actor with filmmaker Kenji Tanigaki, who is reportedly in talks to direct following their collaboration on The Furious. The remake represents another attempt to blend proven international properties with Indonesian action filmmaking sensibilities.
The Cannes slate builds on the recently launched partnership between Asia Media Alliance Group and Nation Pictures, which aims to develop Indonesian and Southeast Asian genre films for worldwide audiences. Producers John Radel and Delon Tio are spearheading the initiative alongside Hong Kong-based producer Mike Leeder, creating a cross-regional collaboration designed to elevate local talent while attracting international financing and distribution.
For longtime action fans, the reunion of Uwais and Taslim on a shared production banner carries particular significance. The duo helped redefine modern martial arts cinema through films such as The Raid and The Night Comes for Us, bringing Indonesian fight choreography and silat techniques to worldwide audiences.
With Cannes serving as the launchpad, the message behind this new slate appears clear: Indonesian action cinema is not slowing down anytime soon. Instead, Uwais, Taslim and their collaborators are aiming to expand its reach even further.