Absolute Dominion

[GeneChing]

Netflix Greenlights Blumhouse Martial Arts Actioner ‘Absolute Dominion’
Julie Ann Emery, Patton Oswalt, Alex Winter and Reagan Gomez are among the cast of Blumhouse Television's new film from 'Green Street' and 'Punisher' director Lexi Alexander.
BY SCOTT ROXBOROUGH

APRIL 29, 2022 6:00AM

From left: Alex Winter, Patton Oswalt, Regan Gomez and Julie Ann Emery PHILIP CHEUNG; NETFLIX; DEWAYNE TURRENTINE; RYAN WEST

Netflix has greenlit Absolute Dominion, a sci-fi martial-arts action film from writer/director Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans, Punisher: War Zone).

Better Call Saul actress Julie Ann Emery, actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, Bill and Ted’s Alex Winter, Upload actress Andy Allo and Regan Gomez (Love, Inc., Queen Sugar) are among the cast of the feature-length actioner, which Blumhouse Television will produce.

Absolute Dominion is set in 2085 A.D. in a world destroyed by religious warfare. Desperate to save humanity, global governing forces host a no-holds-barred, martial arts tournament between competing faiths where the last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith.

Alexander, a former World Kickboxing Champion, cut her teeth on such action features as soccer thugs drama Green Street Hooligans (2005), starring Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam, and Marvel’s comic-book adaptation Punisher: War Zone (2008) with Ray Stevenson and Dominic West. Directing credits also include the 2010 family drama Lifted and the Oscar-nominated live-action short film Johnny Flynton (2002).

In addition to writing and directing, Alexander will produce Absolute Dominion together with Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, John McKeown and Scott Putman. Chris McCumber and Jeremy Gold will executive produce for Blumhouse Television.

The ensemble cast includes Alok Vaid-Menon, Désiré Mia, Jennifer Jajeh, Juliana Joel, June Carryl, Junes Zahdi, Laith Ashley, Mario D’Leon, Nora Armani, Oluniké Adeliyi and Shawn Mousavi. Stunt coordinator Phil Tan (Inception, Pirates of the Caribbean) will oversee fight choreography for the project.

Production is underway. Netflix did not give a release date for the film.

Funny concept.

[GeneChing]

Nov 4, 2022 2:01pm PT
Netflix and Blumhouse Exit Martial Arts Film ‘Absolute Dominion’ (EXCLUSIVE)

By Rebecca Rubin

Getty

Netflix will no longer distribute and Blumhouse Productions will no longer produce “Absolute Dominion,” a science-fiction martial arts drama from filmmaker Lexi Alexander.

Netflix greenlit the movie earlier this year, with Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Television banner on board to produce. It’s unclear why the two companies departed “Absolute Dominion,” but the filmmaking team is seeking new distribution. Principal photography took place this spring in Nevada. The project already wrapped filming, and it is currently in post production.

“Bill and Ted” actor Alex Winter, Patton Oswalt and newcomer Désiré Mia star in the violent, post-apocalyptic film, which takes place in 2085 A.D. after the world has been destroyed by religious warfare. Desperate to save humanity, global governing forces host a gripping, no-holds-barred, martial arts tournament. The last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith.

Alexander, a former World Kickboxing Champion, also wrote and co-produced “Absolute Dominion.” She has previously helmed 2005’s “Green Street Hooligans” starring Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam, as well as Marvels’ “Punisher: War Zone” with Ray Stevenson and Dominic West. Alexander’s debut short film “Johnny Flynton” received an Oscar nomination for best live-action short. Before she pivoted to filmmaking, Alexander was a stuntwoman in “Mortal Kombat: Live Tour.”

The ensemble cast includes newcomer Fabiano Viett, Julie Ann Emery (“Better Call Saul”), singer-songwriter Andy Allo (“The Game”) and Alok Vaid-Menon. Stunt coordinator Phil Tan, a martial arts expert whose screen credits include “Inception” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” oversaw fight choreography.

Netflix’s decision to drop the film comes as the streaming service lost 1.7 million subscribers in the first half of 2022 — for the first time in more than a decade. The company’s subscriber numbers bounced back in the third quarter with a gain of 2.41 million net paid subscribers in Q3 to stand at 223.1 million worldwide as of the end of September. This week, Netflix launched cheaper, ad-supported plans in 12 countries, including the U.S.

Funny outcome.