Indonesian action star Iko Uwais recently launched his production house and directorial debut. Under the banner, Uwais Pictures, the star is directing and starring in Timur as the lead.
Uwais has, by now, attained wider popularity amongst international action genre aficionados after his appearance in the acclaimed action thrillers The Raid, The Raid: Redemption, and The Night Comes for Us.
Timur travels to 1996 to explore a real-life hostage crisis, the resulting chaos, and the subsequent rescue operation initiated by the current Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
A recently released behind-the-scenes video shows Uwais on set, directing the actors and crew in evidently challenging sequences. The makers are planning to bring it to Indonesian screens in December, followed by a worldwide release.
Before making his debut in 2009’s Merantau, directed by Indonesia-based Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans, Uwais worked as a driver for a telecom company. A chance meeting with Evans, who was working on a martial arts documentary at the time, led to Uwais landing the main role in Merantau, Evans' second feature.
The two later reunited for The Raid in 2011. The gore-filled action blockbuster saw Uwais working with actor Joe Taslim, who would later become his co-star in The Night Comes for Us.
Uwais has also contributed to the fight choreography department of films like The Raid, The Raid 2, Beyond Skyline, Mile 22, The Night Comes for Us, and Stuber.
Uwais made his Hollywood debut in the Keanu Reeves-starrer Man of Tai Chi. He also played the lead in the popular Netflix series Wu Assassins, which ran for a single season. A follow-up came in the form of a feature-length movie titled Fistful of Vengeance.
