Keanu Reeves knows his way around a martial arts mat, what with his extensive training for The Matrix and John Wick franchises, and now he’s about to pay tribute to a groundbreaker within the combat sports.
Deadline reports Reeves and Oscar-winning director Fisher Stevens will co-produce a documentary on Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, who is credited with introducing mixed martial arts to the world.
Now 71, Urquidez was a world champion karate and kickboxing legend who transitioned to training actors and coordinating fight scenes for movies.
Incidentally, John Cusack was one of his students, and Urquidez takes him on in a famous scene in the actor’s 1997’s hit Grosse Pointe Blank. But Urquidez’s client list reads like a Hollywood’s who’s who: Everyone from Jackie Chan to the late Patrick Swayze to Michelle Pfeiffer trained with him over his long career.
Emmy-nominated sports documentary editor and filmmaker Jennifer Tiexiera is directing the documentary. She tells the trade, “Benny’s fighting career was born out of his struggles with identity, poverty, and race, but he didn’t let those things define him. The result is a story about how struggle and sacrifice evolved into one about love, spirituality and deeper meaning.”
Keanu recently appeared in and produced another documentary, Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story, which is streaming on Hulu.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Report: ‘Succession’s’ Jeremy Strong in talks to play Springsteen manager Jon Landau in ‘Nebraska’ film
May 8, 2024
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesSuccession star Jeremy Strong may have found his next role. Variety…
Lady Gaga says she edited ‘Chromatica Ball’ film to “honor” her fans: “See yourself in every image”
May 8, 2024
HBOLady Gaga says her just-announced Chromatica Ball concert special, which will stream on Max on…
New workplace comedy set in ‘The Office’ universe gets Peacock series order
May 8, 2024
PeacockNBC's sister streamer announced Wednesday that the as-yet-untitled but eagerly anticipated…
Kerry Washington’s comedy ‘UnPrisoned’ returns to Hulu on July 17
May 8, 2024
Disney/Kelsey McNealHulu announced on Wednesday, May 8, that the second season of the Kerry…
Olivia Rodrigo expands GUTS world tour to Asia and Australia
May 8, 2024
Live NationOlivia Rodrigo has spilled more GUTS world tour dates.For the first time, the "Obsessed"…
Imagine Dragons reveals track list for ‘Loom’ album
May 8, 2024
KIDinaKORNER/InterscopeImagine Dragons has shared a video revealing the track list for their…
Bruce Willis’ wife explains why she went public with his dementia diagnosis
May 8, 2024
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Film at Lincoln CenterEmma Heming Willis is opening up about how…
Ed Sheeran says he went to the Met Gala as a result of preparing for next album
May 8, 2024
Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/VogueEd Sheeran was a surprise face on the red…