Timur Bekmambetov Wants to Re-Invent the Martial Arts Genre

Russian director Timur Bekmambetov (pictured, left) has got style to burn, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s also got plenty of hot air, apparently. While out promoting his new movie “Wanted”, Bekmambetov, whose name I have to cut and paste each time, brags that he’s about to set course on a new martial arts film that, he says, will re-invent the martial arts genre, or at least take it to a whole ‘nother level. Wow. Really, Timur? It’s going to be that awesome?

Sci Fi Wire has Bekmambetov on tape, which means he can’t deny he said it in a few years:

“I have a project, I hope it will happen. Soon… It depends [on if] the original audience will like my movie Wanted. … I cannot tell a lot, because it’s kind of secret, but there will be a movie with a new type of martial arts.”

Looking ahead, Bekmambetov said that he envisions an as-yet-untitled movie that will take martial arts to a new level. “We know … throws. We know punches. We know Star Wars [lightsabers],” he said. “And it’ll be another way of martial arts.”

Wow, talk about going out on a limb! Good luck there, Timur my man.

And for those still hoping for a “Dusk Watch” from Timur? You can pretty much forget about it. He repeats here what he’s said previously at the geek conventions:

One movie that Bekmambetov won’t be directing is Twilight Watch (otherwise known as Dusk Watch), the third chapter in the Night Watch trilogy. “You already saw this movie,” he said. “It’s called Wanted. … For now, I don’t see how I can make another movie [that's the] same. Because it’s very consistent with this Night Watch and Day Watch. … There’s a continuity of creative ideas and everything. And for me it became Dusk Watch.”

The guy’s said the above twice already, so it’s as good bet he’s closed the door on that one, kids.