Lionsgate is preparing to release the frantic Hong Kong action thriller The Furious, , directed by the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker, stunt performer, and action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki (Legend of Seven Monks, Enter the Fat Dragon). The English-language feature is scheduled for a US release on 12 June 2026.
Tanigaki directs from a screenplay co-written by Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zhilong, Shum Kwan Sin, and Frank Hui. The international ensemble cast is led by Xie Miao (Fight Against Evil) and Joe Taslim (The Raid), alongside Yang Enyou, Brian Le, and Joey Iwanaga.
The plot follows Wang Wei (Miao) in the wake of his daughter’s abduction by a ruthless criminal syndicate. When law enforcement proves futile, Wei teams up with Navin (Taslim), a journalist whose own wife has vanished. Together, the duo take on the kidnappers in a relentless succession of martial arts confrontations.
The Furious originally premiered to critical acclaim in the Midnight Madness section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, before going on to screen in competition at both the Sitges and Busan International Film Festivals.
The film currently holds a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with early reviews praising it as ‘pure action cinema magic’ and ‘a banger of a martial arts flick’.
To celebrate the film’s release next week, CinemaChords sat down with Kenji Tanigaki. The director discussed his mission to create the ultimate martial arts movie, his firm belief that the most powerful action remains the most primal even in an age of advanced technology, and why he ultimately dubs The Furious an ‘emotion picture’ rather than a motion picture.
