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Thread: Blazing Samurai

  1. #1
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    Blazing Samurai

    AFM: Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Mel Brooks Join 'Blazing Samurai' Voice Cast


    Michael Cera

    by Scott Roxborough 11/3/2015 12:34pm PST

    'Lion King' director Rob Minkoff is producing the animated feature inspired by Brooks' comedy classic 'Blazing Saddles.'

    Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson and Michelle Yeoh have joined the voice cast of Blazing Samurai, an animated feature inspired by Mel Brooks' comedy classic Blazing Saddles.

    Rob Minkoff, director of The Lion King and Stuart Little, will produce the animated comedy together with Yair Landau and Susan Purcell. Landau's Mass Animation shingle is producing with Huayi Brothers Media Corporation, Flying Tigers Entertainment and GFM Films, which is handling international sales at AFM.

    George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Aasif Mandvi, Sandra Tsing Loh and former Spice Girl Mel B. are also among the voice cast.

    Open Road Films has picked up U.S. rights to Blazing Samurai and plans a domestic bow on August 4, 2017. Sony Pictures International Releasing has picked up several territories and Huayi Brothers is distributing the film in Greater China. GFM Films is selling worldwide rights to buyers at AFM.

    Cera will play Hank, a dog who dreams of becoming a great warrior and saving the town of Kakamucho from becoming the litter box of a nefarious feline warlord. Jackson will voice Jimbo, a once-great cat samurai who has been hitting the catnip too hard for too long. He takes Hank under his wing and teaches him the way of the samurai. Brooks will voice Shogun, a misguided but benevolent leader.

    Helmers Mark Koetsier (Kung Fu Panda) and Chris Bailey (Alvin and the Chipmunks) will direct from a screenplay by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper.

    “There is no business like Shogun business,” quipped Brooks. The comedy legend will attend AFM Nov. 4 to showcase footage from Blazing Samurai to buyers, along with Minkoff and Landau.

    “Throughout the recording sessions from Mel Brooks to Mel B, this cast has not only met the humor, but raised the level of comedy and heart in this unique homage to Blazing Saddles,” said Landau. “Ed and Nate delivered a first-rate script in Blazing Samurai, a story about cats and dogs getting along that will appeal to everyone whether they’ve seen the original comedy classic or not.”

    Brooks is executive producing Blazing Samurai along with Reginald Hudlin and Pietro Ventani.
    Great cast...except for Cera...I can't stand him. He's top of my 'makes me want to punch him in the nose' list.

    I'm trying to make this film concept work in my mind. How do you even do the bean campfire scene with Samurai?
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

  2. #2
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    Producer Shannon McIntosh's Martial Arts Movie Slate

    ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Producer Shannon McIntosh Sets Martial Arts Movie Slate With UK Firm GFM
    By Andreas Wiseman
    Co-International Editor
    @AndreasWiseman


    Shutterstock

    EXCLUSIVE: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood producer and Quentin Tarantino regular collaborator Shannon McIntosh has set a four-picture venture with Evolution Pictures, the genre label of UK sales outfit GFM Films.

    McIntosh Films will team with Evolution on four martial arts action movies, which will be produced by McIntosh and H. Daniel Gross (Halloween: Resurrection), formerly of Blackbelt TV.

    Two films are due to be shot in Thailand, with the other two lined up to be made in the US. The team is aiming to shoot the first feature in early 2020. GFM Films will handle world sales and will launch the slate at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.

    According to the team, the movies will feature a mix of “new young martial arts talent and well-established American & Asian stars of the genre.”

    McIntosh and Gross, who have also been developing a martial-arts-themed series, said of the venture, “Joining forces with GFM on this slate is thrilling for all of us. Martial arts have a deep history in cinema, and these projects present an exciting opportunity to bring action-packed genre films grounded in strong scripts to the screen. There’s an audience for these films, and a dedicated one at that. There’s a true love for martial arts films, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to enter the arena with Evolution Pictures & GFM by our side.”

    Fred Hedman of Evolution said, “We are delighted to be working with Shannon and Dan to bring this unique opportunity to the marketplace. These four English-language kung fu/action movies will showcase new young martial arts talent, whilst at the same time drawing on well-established American & Asian stars of the genre. This venture furthers our ambitions for Evolution Pictures in becoming an established production arm and genre label of GFM Films and we could not be more excited.”

    Run by Guy Collins, Fred Hedman and Michael Ryan, GFM’s slate includes in-the-works animation Blazing Samurai, which is now being directed by Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), completed John Cleese rom-com The Naked Wanderer, and animations A Wizard’s Tale, which has Lily Collins among the voice cast, and Duck Duck Goose, whose voice cast includes Jim Gaffigan and Zendaya.

    Evolution’s development slate includes thriller The Ledge, about a female climber trapped on the face of a mountain who must fight off four killers on a ledge above her.
    I wish this article had dropped some working titles. For now, this will have to live on our Once Upon A Time In Hollywood & Blazing Samurai threads.
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

  3. #3

    Maybe the secret origin of Blazing Samurai

    Check this out . . .



    . . . A cartoon based of BLAZING SADDLES. Who'd have thought.

  4. #4

    A more interesting version



    The video has nothing to do with the description . . .

    The main character is called Hank, he is a dog who has a dream - to become a samurai and protect everyone who needs help. Doggie is ready to do a lot to achieve his goals. And very quickly, fate will begin to test it for strength and a really difficult task will appear. An evil cat, a military leader named Ika Chu plans to destroy the entire population in one of the cities, Hank must stop him and give a worthy rebuff. His becoming a real hero will not be easy, but as noted, he does not plan to give up a doggie and prematurely lower his paws. An animated film with adventures, action elements, comedy and components of a family animated story. Plus oddities, irony, parody and other memorable components. Fans of real comedies will have to like everything and enjoy it.

  5. #5
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    So it's 'Dog Lives Matter'?

    ... too soon?

    'Blazing Samurai’: Adrian Politowski’s Align Boards Production Financing On Feature Toon
    By Nancy Tartaglione
    International Box Office Editor/Senior Contributor
    @DeadlineNancy
    August 7, 2020 9:00am


    Blazing Productions

    EXCLUSIVE: Adrian Politowski’s LA-based Align has come aboard to contribute production financing on animated comedy Blazing Samurai. The $46M toon is a re-imagining of Mel Brooks’ classic Blazing Saddles and is currently in CG production with Aniventure at Cinesite’s Montréal and Vancouver facilities. Completion is expected for late summer 2021. Rob Minkoff and Adam Nagle are producers.

    The story, directed by Mark Koetsier, follows Hank, a loveable mutt with big dreams of becoming a Samurai. When he finds himself with a new job as sheriff of Kakamucho, he also finds he may have bitten off more than he can chew given the town is inhabited solely by cats.

    The voice cast includes Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, George Takei, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou and Brooks.

    Blazing Samurai was originally mooted in 2015, but got held up when animation studio Arc was put into receivership. There was a long hiatus to take back control of the assets and rights and an agreement was set last November with production restarting at that time.


    Align

    Former Co-CEO of international production group Umedia, Politowski co-founded Align in 2019 with Nadia Khamlichi. Backed by a four-year greenlight fund of $200M, the group retains the ability to fully finance features and television.
    He says, “We’ve always been passionate about animation and are thrilled to be taking part in Blazing Samurai. The combination of Rob and Mark as outstanding animation creatives, the industry expertise of Aniventure, GFM Animation and Cinesite delivering amazing production value on screen, assembled around such a hilarious action-packed family script will make Blazing Samurai one of the key animated films of 2021.”

    Politowski adds, “With the arrival of COVID-19 across Europe and North America, our team came together to shift our strategy to meet the limitations of the new filmmaking landscape. It was a natural step for us to shift our focus to high-end commercial animation projects. Blazing Samurai is the first of more to come.”

    Blazing Productions’ Guy Collins said the company is “delighted to have Align joining with Aniventure, Cinesite and GFM as additional partners on this project. In the current investment and distribution climate it is vital for the independent production industry to have access from forward thinking companies like Align who are replacing the more traditional bank lenders. The Align team has impressive experience and will be fully engaged with the film’s senior team.”

    Align aims to produce and finance five projects a year, typically in the $8M to $30M budget range. Current projects include Blithe Spirit starring Judi Dench, Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher and Dan Stevens; Dennis Dugan’s Love, Weddings & Other Disasters with Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons; and Die In A Gunfight starring Alexandra Daddario and Diego Boneta.

    Align and Aniventure present Blazing Samurai in association with HB Wink Animation and GFM Animation. It’s a Flying Tiger Entertainment Production in association with Aniventure and a Blazing Productions Ltd. production in association with HB Wink Animation, GFM Animation and Cinesite Animation.
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

  6. #6
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    First look

    Feb 25, 2021 1:42am PT
    First Look: Animated Comedy ‘Blazing Samurai,’ Starring Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais (EXCLUSIVE)


    By Leo Barraclough


    Courtesy of Aniventure & Align/HB Wink Animation/GFM Animation
    The first images have been released for “Blazing Samurai,” an animated comedy based on Mel Brooks’ classic film “Blazing Saddles,” and featuring the voices of Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson and Ricky Gervais. It is produced and creatively led by Rob Minkoff, the director of Disney’s “The Lion King.”

    The project is in production at Cinesite Montreal and is on schedule for delivery later this year. GFM Animation will be selling the film at next week’s European Film Market, where distributors will be able to screen the latest cut of the film.

    “Blazing Samurai” follows the story of Hank, a loveable mutt with big dreams of becoming a samurai. When he finds himself with a new job as sheriff of Kakamucho, he also finds he may have bitten off more than he can chew given the town is inhabited solely by cats.


    Courtesy of Aniventure & Align/HB Wink Animation/GFM Animation
    The Japanese-inspired animated comedy “teaches kids and adults alike that embracing diversity is what truly makes you a hero,” said GFM Animation.

    As well as Cera, Jackson and Gervais, the voice cast includes George Takei, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou and Brooks.

    Minkoff said: “ ‘Blazing Samurai’ is a freewheeling mash-up of East and West. An action-packed comedy featuring incredible performances from our stellar cast of hilarious characters, it also delivers a great message of inclusion and acceptance. It’s sure to be a treat the whole family can enjoy.”

    Producer Guy Collins added: “Seeing ‘Blazing Samurai’ come together has been a huge boost in these COVID-impacted times. This was always an ambitious independent animated movie yet the combination of the production, creative and CG animation teams has been seamless and that shines through in the showreel. Having such outstanding animation creatives, Rob Minkoff and Mark Koetsier guiding production and working with the Cinesite team means that what we’re seeing on screen is truly world class.”

    Mark Koetsier (“The Grinch,” “Big Hero 6,” “Madagascar: Escape to Africa”) is directing alongside Minkoff (“The Lion King,” “Mr Peabody & Sherman,” “Stuart Little”), who is also producing with Adam Nagle (“Riverdance: The Animated Adventure”) and Collins.

    Align and Aniventure present “Blazing Samurai” in association with HB Wink Animation and GFM Animation.
    I wonder if they'll do the campfire bean eating scene...
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

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