XYZ Films moves into local-language production

The story stars Iko Uwais from Evan’s martial arts film Merantau (pictured) and follows an elite squad that gets trapped inside a Jakartan crime den.

The roster includes a credit as executive producer on Cannes market title Greetings To The Devil, a Spanish-language production in Colombia that is directed by The Orozco Brothers and stars Edgar Ramirez.

XYZ recently served as executive producers on the European production Errors Of The Human Body directed by Eron Sheean, which just wrapped production in Dresden, Germany. The partners are also producing Frankenstein’s Army, a so-called elevated genre film that is being put together as a European co-production later this year.

“We have seen the value in producing quality independent genre films in the international marketplace and The Raid ups that ante for us,” Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films said. “Plus, we could not pass up an opportunity to work with Gareth Evans, who we feel is clearly on the verge of something special with his films.”

“We are very happy to be working alongside XYZ Films on our latest project,” Evans said, adding later: “With a shared passion for cinema of all genres we hope this will be the first of many opportunities through which our companies can work together.”