Adam Wingard has found his bad guy.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira is in talks to make his acting debut opposite Adria Arjona in Onslaught, Wingard’s action thriller set up at A24, Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company.
The feature reteams the Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire filmmaker with his frequent collaborator Simon Barrett. The two made the cult hits You’re Next and The Guest and are writing this new feature together.
Many details for Onslaught are being kept in an underground experimental facility, but sources describe it as a gonzo action horror thriller. The scope is said to more in line with Wingard’s earlier movies, which were all original creations, before he went off and made the big-budget spectacle hits Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong.
According to sources, Arjona will play a mother who falls back on a particular set of skills in order to protect her loved ones after she runs afoul of a threat that has escaped a secret military base.
Pereira will play a character called The Butcher, and bring his set of skills to the role — including anaconda chokes and roundhouse kicks.
Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett will produce Onslaught under their Ryder Picture Company banner alongside A24. Also producing is Alexander Black for Lyrical Media. Wingard and manager Jeremy Platt will also produce, via their new shingle Breakaway Civilization, along with Barrett.
Lyrical and A24 will co-finance, with A24 handling worldwide releasing. Lyrical’s Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers will serve as executive producers with A24.
Pereira is a former kickboxer and Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is one of a handful of fighters to become a champion in two different weight divisions.
English (US) ·