Kickboxing champion and motion film stunt coordinator Benny “The Jet” Urquidez would be the focus of a sports activities doc from Keanu Reeves and Fisher Stevens.
Deadline studies a brand new sports activities documentary is being deliberate for kickboxing champion and martial arts film star Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. The names related to the manufacturing nearly looks like a bingo announcer referred to as out randomly drawn names from my favourite childhood films. Keanu Reeves, who himself isn’t any stranger to the martial arts world and motion style, has partnered with Fisher Stevens, who is understood for initiatives like Quick Circuit 1 & 2 and Hackers, to provide the documentary on Urquidez, whom I’ve talked about earlier than on my Dragons Without end retrospective.
The documentary, which is titled The Jet, is presently in manufacturing with the Emmy-nominated sports activities documentary editor turned filmmaker, Jennifer Tiexiera, directing the movie. Tiexiera has most just lately additionally directed a three-part collection for HBO referred to as Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo, which has additionally just lately been nominated for an Emmy within the catagory of Excellent Crime and Justice Documentary. Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm are financing the movie below their banner Unapologetic Tasks. Maura Anderson and Zak Kilberg might be producing below the manufacturing firm Fisher Stevens had just lately launched, Extremely Flammable. John Scalise and his FAYA Undertaking additionally function a producer. Nancy Weisler and Brian Maya will even govt produce below the Unapologetic banner.
Urquidez fought competitively with concentrations in kickboxing and karate and he held six world titles in 5 totally different weight divisions. The Jet remained undefeated over the course of his 20+ yr kickboxing profession. As soon as he retired from the combating circuit, his profession in films got here. Benny would famously struggle Jackie Chan in what is taken into account to be among the finest one-on-one fights of the martial arts style in Wheels on Meals. The 2 would even have a rematch within the aforementioned Dragons Without end. Within the 80s movie Say Something, John Cusack’s character was a kickboxer and Cusack would prepare in actual life with Urquidez as his coach. Urquidez would stay within the movie enterprise as a stunt and struggle coordinator and each Cusack and Urquidez would have a memorable struggle themselves within the 1997 comedy, Grosse Pointe Clean.
Tiexiera spoke of Urquidez, saying, “Benny’s combating profession was born out of his struggles with id, poverty, and race, however he didn’t let these issues outline him. The result’s a narrative about how wrestle and sacrifice developed into one about love, spirituality and deeper that means.” And Reeves would add, “Benny is a real mentor, and has had such a profound but underappreciated impression on each cinema and martial arts. I’m very excited to assist share his story with the world.”
The Jet is trying to launch in 2025.