Scott Adkins’ ‘Death March’ with Philippines Selected for North America

Leading independent distributor Well Go USA has acquired North American rights to Death March, the upcoming World War II action film starring and conceived by action star Scott Adkins (Undisputed franchise, John Wick 4).

In Adkins’ story, written by Marc Clebanoff, a British airman is thrown from a plane ashore and ends up in a POW camp run by the Japanese. Waiting to take part in the famous Bataan Death March, the airman is tortured by the camp commander and forced to fight for his life against a group of skilled Japanese warriors. Adkins plays the airman. Veteran actor Peter Shinkoda (“I, Robot,” “Daredevil”) plays the camp commander.

Under the direction of Louis Mandylor, the film recently wrapped production in the Subic Bay and Bataan regions of the Philippines. Release plans have not yet been finalized.

The cast also includes: Michael Copon (“As Good as Dead”, “Power Rangers: Time Force”), Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (“The Equalizer 2”), Michael Rene Walton (“Reptile”), Gary Cairns ( “The Channel”, “Justified”), Shane Kosugi (“Nine Deaths of the Ninja”), Masanori Mimoto (“Baby Assassins”, “Hydra”) and Gabbi Garcia (“Unbreak My Heart”).

The production is a collaboration between Los Angeles-based Odyssey Motion Pictures, Brand in Motion and Philippine partners Myriad Entertainment Corp. and Reality RR Studios. Brandon Menchen of Brand in Motion and Clebanoff are serving as executive producers. Doris Pfardrescher and Brennan Lane will executive produce for Well Go USA.

The film was inspired by true events that became one of the most notorious in World War II history, the forced march of some 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American prisoners of war following the Japanese victory at the Battle of Bataan. It is reported that 20,000 men died during the 65-mile trek to Camp O’Donnell, and thousands more died after reaching their destination. Filipino film director Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr. chronicled the events in his 2013 black-and-white drama of the same name.

“Scott’s skills as an actor and martial artist shine through in every film he’s in. We’re especially pleased that (Mandylor-directed) ‘Death March’ gives him the freedom to showcase his immense talent,” said Lane, director of acquisitions and production for Well Go USA.

“Death March is a truly international collaboration, with partners and talent from the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia,” said writer-producer Clebanoff. “The story we’re telling raises the bar for fans of Scott Adkins and the action genre, and has a unique storyline, strong cultural themes and a broad reach that elevates it to mainstream appeal.”

Well Go USA, based in Plano, Texas, has a strong library of Asian and action films. Its previous acquisitions include Donnie Yen’s “Sakra” and Soi Cheang’s “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.” It also previously acquired Adkins’ sci-fi action comedy “Max Cloud.”