Tony Jaa in Hollywood
Tony Jaa is a famous master of Thai martial arts, which he showcased as a movie star in several films. We already wrote a story about him on this blog: www.thailandblog.nl/cultuur/tony-ja/ Now I didn't know better whether Tony has been "retired" since 2010 and lived in a Buddhist monastery in Surin.
Hollywood
Suddenly his name pops up again in the cast of Fast and Furious 7, the latest film in a (sequel) series of American action films. Jaa's role is not yet completely clear, but he is almost certainly one of the bad guys in the film judging by images from the trailer, in which the van he is in is blown up. Starring in this Hollywood debut for Tony Jaa are Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker and Jason Statham.
Interview
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tony Jaa says, among other things: “I've always been a big fan of the Fast and Furious movies. The actions in the film are fast paced, humorous and keep the audience engaged. It's a great mix of humor and action, something I really appreciate. There is no better film for my first Hollywood appearance.”
The Hollywood Reporter then asked Tony if he thought he could beat Johnson or Diesel in a fight. The new Hollywood star replied diplomatically: "The opportunity I've been given to work with Vin Diesel and The Rock already makes me a winner."
Thai premiere
The film Fast and Furious 7 can be seen in Thai cinemas from the beginning of April and Tony Jaa will undoubtedly contribute to the interest of the Thais with his role.
Below is the official trailer of the movie, in which you can spot Tony Jaa for 0.51 seconds at 3:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skpu5HaVkOc&t=24[/youtube]