The Man with the Iron Fist

[GeneChing]

RZA mentioned something about this to me at the last HHCF event (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41817) about this. I don't think has anything do to with the comic Iron Fist (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49086).

RZA: 'Bobby Digital' To Live On In Comics, Films (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003821968)
June 27, 2008 , 3:15 PM ET
Gary Graff, Detroit

It took RZA seven years to get back to Bobby Digital. Now, if he has his way, we'll be seeing a lot more of the character.

In the wake of this week's release of "RZA as Bobby Digital: Digi Snacks," the Wu-Tang Clan leader tells Billboard.com that "I'm gonna continue to build the character with films, comics ... I hate to sound so business-push with it, but I see Bobby Digital as being a potential franchise for hip-hop. He ain't too watered-down. He ain't too soft. He ain't too good. He's got a little bit of everything in him that people can relate to, so I'm gonna try to develop him like that. I think he will have more adventures."

RZA -- who wraps up his "Digi Snacks" tour July 8 in Washington, D.C. -- says that may include resurrecting the Bobby Digital film he started making after the release of 2001's "Digital Bullet." "I found the old films, the old artwork, everything," he says. "They're low-budget films, but they've got a vibe to them and I think they offer the hip-hop community something. When I was first doing it, it felt like I could've had a bigger budget, but now it feels like a classic."

That said, Bobby Digital may have to wait in line behind a number of other projects in RZA's typically jammed qeue. He's completing the first album by ACHOSEN, his band with System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian. He's also producing several new albums, including one for Wu-Tang mate Raekwon. RZA has developed a martial arts film with Hollywood pal Eli Roth called "The Man with the Iron Fist," which he says has "the blessing" of his "teacher," Quentin Tarantino, and he collaborated with Hans Zimmer on the score for the forthcoming Vin Diesel science fiction film "Babylon A.D."

He also hopes to complete "The Cure," which he says will be his final solo album, in the near future. As for Wu-Tang Clan, RZA says that he hopes a European tour slated for July will yield some ideas for a new project.

"Usually when we get together on those types of tours, we get to be together with our friends and buddies and we get a chance to talk and figure out if there's any energy left in us to go do what we want to do," RZA explains. "We have to see what we've got in terms of talent, energy, sensibility ... whatever it takes. So we'll see what we got out there on the tour."

[GeneChing]

Told ya it wasn't Iron Fist.
Eli Roth Reveals More on RZA's Directorial Debut - The Man with the Iron Fist (http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/06/eli-roth-reveals-details-on-rzas-directorial-debut-the-man-with-the-iron-fist/)
July 6, 2008
Source: CHUD
by Alex Billington


Barely two days ago we reported that Eli Roth and Wu-Tang Clan's RZA would be working together on a martial arts movie called The Man with the Iron Fist. In short time, CHUD caught up with Eli Roth and asked him about the production. Roth revealed some enticing details, including that this would be RZA's directorial debut after studying Quentin Tarantino for years and that it would be undoubtedly a bloody R rated martial arts extravaganza. I was initially already quite excited for this, but now I'm even more excited - this is going to kick some serious ass. Apparently RZA has an encyclopedic knowledge of martial arts flicks and this is his dream project that will feature "everything martial arts fans could want."

To clarify, this has nothing to do with Marvel's superhero named Iron Fist, as an adaptation of that character is in development elsewhere. RZA's The Man with the Iron Fist is an entirely separate project that he wrote himself and is directing. Here is what Eli Roth said about the production.

Yes, it is true. RZA's script is amazing. He has been studying directing with Tarantino for years and he's really ready to get behind the camera. His impact on rap music and hip hop culture cannot be measured, and he's ready to add his own unique style and vision to the world of film. This movie will have everything martial arts fans could want, combined with RZA's superb musical talent. This project has been his dream for years, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. And fans should know that yes, there will be blood… This ain't no PG-13.

As I mentioned originally, The RZA had quite a bit of involvement with the soundtrack on the Kill Bill movies and I can only imagine that was where and when he began studying Tarantino's techniques. It doesn't sound like RZA is going to mimic what Tarantino does, but rather attempt to bring his own unique style and vision to this film in combination with his immense appreciation for martial arts films. I'll reiterate this yet again: with Roth, Tarantino, and RZA all influencing this project, it definitely has the potential to be amazing. We'll be sure to update you once we hear anything else, including when it's expected to start production. Does Roth's update get you more excited for The Man with the Iron Fist?

[doug maverick]

i'll be watchign for this film. i remember two of the fight choreagraphers who i worked with. use to work with RZA as they were shi yan mings students(i use laugh cause they were hispanic with egrman names which was just to funny to me for some reason) but anyway they use to do these little short films with RZA, and they told me they all looked pretty good. so hopefully this is going to kick some ass.

[GeneChing]

It's the hipness of a true hip hop pioneer, I suppose. So far, little new to the story, just rewrites of the original press release.

RZA and Eli Roth creating a martial arts film (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/07/rza-and-eli-roth-creating-a-martial-arts-film.html)
By Sean Gandert
on July 10, 2008 11:14 AM

We all knew RZA had a thing for Kung Fu films, but aside from the unexplained behind-the-scenes YouTube coverage, no one really expected to see him make one. Which isn't to say we didn't wonder what the Wu-Tang mastermind could do, though. Lucky for everyone, it looks like we may just get a chance after all.
Billboard has word that RZA is working with Eli Roth (Hostel) on a martial-arts film called The Man with the Iron Fist. According to them, the project has the "blessing" of his mentor Quentin Tarantino, who is also likely who introduced the two filmmakers since RZA wrote music for Kill Bill and Roth provided a trailer for Grindhouse.

Who knows when RZA will get around to it, though, as he's also working on finishing up his Bobby Digital feature and planning on expanding the character into a multimedia franchise. He's also working on an album with System of a Down bassist Shavo Odajian, producing an album by Raekwon and hoping to finish up his solo album The Cure. Yeah. It could be a while before we see things begin to coalesce, but for a true fusion of Wu-Tang and kung fu, we're willing to wait.

[doug maverick]

i remember this video as one of the illest vids back in the day:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CE3hb__ylG4

[doug maverick]

heres another one featureing long time shi an ming student bookeem woodbine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrT2GBJMM-U

[GeneChing]

...even through us. Check out RZA on Iron Fist, the Last Dragon and Barack Obama (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=795) by Gene Ching.

What's more, I'll give you a little teaser on this. I've been experimenting with diptychs and triptychs in my writing, cutting across our print and web platforms. I published a triptych with Cung Le's Strikeforce Championship: Panel #1 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=751) Panel #2 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=762) Panel #3 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=773)

And I have another diptych going now. Here's panel #1 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=791). Panel #2 will appear in our next issue, on the newsstands December 4, 2008. This might evolve into a triptych if a certain person follows through.

This RZA piece is panel #1 of a triptych. Stay tuned. ;)

[GeneChing]

Anyone else planning to go to Wu-Tang Clans' Grand Ballroom show in S.F. this Wednesday?
:cool:

[GeneChing]

I had a great time at the show last night. RZA hooked me up with all access passes. There was some microphone issues, which sucked. RZA stopped the show at one point and berated the sound man because there wasn't enough clear mikes to go around. But the show was awesome. RZA dominated like the head of Voltron. He can pump up a crowd like no one else. Inspectah Deck and GZA were on fire. The free rap stuff was amazing. Wu skillz are massive. Check in with the 8 Diagrams tour (http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=787) when it comes to your 'hood. They're playing a lot of intimate clubs, which is where hip hop really shines IMO. :cool:

I got to hang with RZA backstage after for a while. We talked movies, of course, and killed a bottle of Patron. He let me in on a lot about how Iron Fist is going - nothing I can publish yet because nothing was firm - but I'm now VERY EXCITED about this project.

[MasterKiller]

Gene lives a charmed life. :mad:

[doug maverick]

I had a great time at the show last night. RZA hooked me up with all access passes. There was some microphone issues, which sucked. RZA stopped the show at one point and berated the sound man because there wasn't enough clear mikes to go around. But the show was awesome. RZA dominated like the head of Voltron. He can pump up a crowd like no one else. Inspectah Deck and GZA were on fire. The free rap stuff was amazing. Wu skillz are massive. Check in with the 8 Diagrams tour (http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=787) when it comes to your 'hood. They're playing a lot of intimate clubs, which is where hip hop really shines IMO. :cool:

I got to hang with RZA backstage after for a while. We talked movies, of course, and killed a bottle of Petron. He let me in on a lot about how Iron Fist is going - nothing I can publish yet because nothing was firm - but I'm now VERY EXCITED about this project.

**** gene i thought i bragged alot. i'm actually jealous, wu tang clan aint nuthin to f uck with. was literally the first rap song i ever really listened too. and all i thought was what kung fu movies mixed with rap, this has got to be the best and i have ben a fan every since. im truly jealous gene ching, **** you.lol

[Lucas]

we should start catologing every time Gene uses the 'cool' smiley face.

:mad:

[GeneChing]

...and RZA has learned the art of Chinese hard liquor drinking fu. He poured some tall shots, did the old Chinese two-hand toast, and refilled my cup as soon as it was drained. He could have kicked my ass drinking. He did it before when we were in China. But he was merciful and gave me that Chinese 'out' to save face. "You can sip this one. This is a sipper."

Before the Patron, RZA put down a magnum of champagne during the performance (although he did spray some on the audience). Hip Hop zuiquan.

[GeneChing]

RZA headlined at the Mezzanine in S.F. last night. Didn't take the stage until 11:30. He called me back for a pre-show chat (and more Patron - his drink of choice now :rolleyes:). He said that he was just at some sort of wrap party for Inglourious Basterds the night before and now Tarantino and Roth are free to bring their full attention to The Man with the Iron Fist.

Wound up talking some film (RZA wasn't hip to Ip Man (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52218) yet) and we went off on Zohan and Benjamin Button (two films I haven't seen yet). It was fun but my god am I paying for it this Monday morning. I'll be really paying for it at practice later on tonight...:o

[doug maverick]

poor gene.lol, sounds like u had fun. go see Benjamen it was awesome. as for zohan it was ok i guess.

[GeneChing]

...'cept that it made a Malaysian newspaper... :confused:
Roth 'n' rapper to team on martial arts opus (http://www.star-ecentral.com/movies/buzz/buzz.asp?file=archives/buzz/2009/7/13Rothnrappe&date=7/13/2009&title=Roth%20%27n%27%20rapper%20to%20team%20on%20m artial%20arts%20opus)

Hostel dude Eli Roth and rapper RZA are working on a martial arts epic currently entitled The Man with the Iron Fist - no relation to the Marvel Comics character.

Roth told Sci Fi Wire he was working with the rapper-producer on the script at present.

Roth said the script calls for a number of martial arts icons to be in the mix somehow, and that RZA had the whole movie mapped out already.

According to Roth, viewers can expect hip-hop mixed in with kung fu, a multiracial cast, and "it's going to be spectacular."

[Published: 13-Jul-2009]

[Lucas]

hip hop and kungfu go really well together. thats one of the things i dig about a lot of jet li movies.

[doug maverick]

yeah i agree with that. well rza has made a almost twenty year career over doing just that. so by doing it in a visual aspect like film is just the fruition of all those years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3hb__ylG4 this video for tragedy was the first time he tried it and it was sick.

[Shaolinlueb]

hip hop and kungfu go really well together. thats one of the things i dig about a lot of jet li movies.

really? romeo must die and that other one he did with dmx were good? i thought they were the sh*t. as in Sh*t coming out of my a**.

[doug maverick]

actually romeo must die would have been a good movie if there was actually some chemistry between the two leads.

[Shaolinlueb]

actually romeo must die would have been a good movie if there was actually some chemistry between the two leads.

romeo must die i kinda enjoyed.

[GeneChing]

...RZA has a book dropping this month so he's doing some promo interviews. I have one coming up about it soon - stay tuned. Unfortunately, he didn't say much about this film project. I asked and got a little but we stayed on topic mostly. You'll see soon...:cool:
RZA Back to the Movies (http://hiphopwired.com/11592/rza-back-to-the-movies/)
by JUSTIN STEWART October 5, 2009, 10:54am

The rap game may look like the ultimate life to those peeking in through the window, but the politics and yellow tape that surrounds it makes the business more than what it comes off to be.

Known for his ability to craft that Wu Tang sound, the RZA is also known for his work in films. Appearing in countless films, he has always had quite an interest in the Kung Fu industry. For those that didn't know, Wu Tang, Shaolin…yea put it all together.

Immersing himself into the Afro Samurai series, the producer created a soundtrack for the show acquiring the musical talents of Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli and Q-Tip.

He is currently in the process of preparing a script for a new film titled The Man With the Iron Fist alongside actor/director Eli Roth. Roth is known for his directorial work on films such as Cabin Fever and the Hostel series.

Although no further details have been disclosed about the film, presumptions would assume that it has something to do with martial arts in some way, but it's only an assumption. Roth gave his own take on the film and work of the RZA.

“This movie will have everything martial arts fans could want, combined with RZA's superb musical talent. The project has been his dream for years, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. And fans should know that yes, there will be blood…This ain't no PG-13.”

Somewhat wet behind the ears, the producer has been in the driver's seat before as a director. Although it ever came to the public eye, he once directed and starred in a film for his alter ego, Bobby Digital. Feeling that the flick did not match up to standards, it was never released, but he has stated that he still has it. In the past, the producer opened the doors to provide details on the work.

“I still got it. I made it. Actually, I did like two 45-minute episodes. The Bobby Digital character, he's a superhero at one point, right. But then he's also just this f*cking guy in the streets at another point. I did one episode based on like, '89. I did one episode that was supposed to be like 10 years later. I've still got a lot of faith in the character. I'm hoping to maybe get a comic-book deal or something.”

In related news, with the announcement fro Quentin Tarantino of the third installment in the Kill Bill series, there is a possibility that RZA will have his hand in the cookie jar. Although details have been scarce, RZA was a major part in the first two films as he produced, scored and orchestrated many scenes for the films.

It seems that rap money may stretch long, but that movie money has no bounds.

[Jimbo]

really? romeo must die and that other one he did with dmx were good? i thought they were the sh*t. as in Sh*t coming out of my a**.

Agreed. Especially that second one, I can't even remember the name of it.

IMO, though I really like Jet Li, he's one of the last people who should play a 'Romeo' or romantic lead character (Jackie Chan is another). Jet acts very awkward and distant onscreen around female love-interest characters.

Though I'm not a Hip-Hop fan, I felt the best uses of it in MA films were in European films like near the end of Kiss of the Dragon, and maybe District B13(?).

[GeneChing]

From the L.A. Times...
RZA's new rap: filmmaker (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-rza3-2010jan03,0,1593639.story)
After years of tutelage under Tarantino and other masters, the student is ready to direct his first movie.
By Chris Lee
January 3, 2010

Call the RZA hip-hop's foremost alchemist. The self-professed former drug dealer-turned-Grammy-winning rapper-producer has defied all odds to spin not lead into gold, but démodé pop culture and arcane philosophical beliefs into platinum disc upon platinum disc.

And now, after spending years under the tutelage of several high-profile filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, he's preparing to unleash his unique mash-up sensibility on the big screen, in a project that will be part chop-socky flick, part spaghetti western and all RZA.

As founding father of the hard-core Staten Island rap collective Wu-Tang Clan, RZA (pronounced "rizza," given name: Robert Diggs) conflated the spiritual enlightenment found in '70s kung fu movies with racially incendiary teachings from the Five-Percent Nation of Islam, adding to the mix references to Taoism and comic books, numerology and snippets of mafia don movie dialogue, articulating a plaintive yet hard-bitten ghetto cri de coeur.

The upshot was an almost unparalleled string of hits that started with the Clan's epochal 1993 debut LP, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," and encompasses such releases as Method Man's multiplatinum-selling "Tical," Raekwon the Chef's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx . . ." (widely regarded as one of hip-hop's greatest albums) and Ol' Dirty *******'s gold-selling "Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version," another ranking rap classic.

But after the Wu's tightly knit fabric started to unravel around 2004, RZA began to focus more on film. In recent years, he has been scoring such movies as "Blade: Trinity" and making cameo appearances in Jim Jarmusch's "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai" and other films. His encyclopedic knowledge of Hong Kong cinema notwithstanding, the producer didn't have any particular ambition to set moviedom on fire. Until, that is, he got a fateful phone call from then-Miramax Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein.

"Hey RZA, it's Harvey," the RZA recalled, lapsing into a raspy imitation of Weinstein's cigarette-seasoned growl. "I want you to be in my movie. You got a new career now."

Since that appearance with Clive Owen in 2005's "Derailed," RZA has built a respectable filmography with small roles in a number of high-profile, big-budget studio movies, among them Judd Apatow's "Funny People" and Ridley Scott's "American Gangster," as well as a turn in "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips' upcoming comedy, "Due Date," and Paul Haggis' "The Next Three Days" -- a role that reunited him with "Gangster" co-star Russell Crowe.

"I'm working up in the movie business," RZA said. "Maybe in the movie business, I'm working down. How long are you going to be a celebrity? I like the art. I like how it feels to act."

So do such other rappers-turned-actors as LL Cool J, Common, Xzibit, Ludacris, DMX, Ice Cube and even Snoop Dogg. But befitting the producer's magpie ability to glean and repackage cultural stimuli from across the high-low divide, RZA says his acting efforts are in the service of his next career act: a move behind the camera.

With no small amount of backup from a cadre of top-flight filmmakers -- including independent cinema luminary Jarmusch and Hong Kong action movie ace John Woo, but most significantly, Tarantino -- the RZA-rector, as he is sometimes known, is now in final preparations for his debut as a writer-director, "The Man With the Iron Fist." And unlike the fates of some musicians' directorial efforts (say, Madonna's "Filth and Wisdom" or Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst's "The Education of Charlie Banks"), RZA's movie industry backers swear he has the right combination of creativity, chutzpah and discipline to achieve liftoff at the box office.

Planned as a genre-busting opening salvo to the industry, the movie is being produced by "torture porn" poster boy Eli Roth, the writer-director of such low-cost, high-yield horror films as "Hostel" and "Hostel: Part II."

(For the time being, though, both filmmakers prefer to remain mum on specific plot points, although Roth allows that "Man With the Iron Fist" should appeal to "an audience that's hungry for kung fu but not grindhouse. Something that's modern, like 'Blade.' ")

"RZA is such a creative fountain. The script is great, he's got characters, jokes. What he does with lyrics, he does with dialogue," Roth said. "And he's done such a great mix: spaghetti western, kung fu, modern fighting infused with hip-hop and multiculture. He has this whole comic book universe figured out. I know he's going to make a brilliant film."

Of course, none of it would be possible without Tarantino, who godfathered Roth's "Hostel" into production as an executive producer and introduced the filmmaker to RZA. A longtime admirer of Wu-Tang Clan's sonic mélange, with his own deeply felt appreciation for the Shaolin monk movie cannon, Tarantino first hired RZA to create the electro-ambient, quasi-hip-hop score for his two-volume kung fu drama " Kill Bill." But their working relationship didn't end there. Tarantino has allowed the RZA to soak up production know-how on the set of every movie he's done since 2003.

Tarantino said he identifies with the hip-hop producer's skill in macromanaging the nine Clan members' unwieldy energies into a cohesive form. "You have to understand that even though they're very different, being a producer on a record is not too different from being a director of film -- especially with something like Wu-Tang Clan," Tarantino said. "All these guys have their different contributions. Everyone has a say. But ultimately, the album is RZA's decision. That's very similar to what a director does. It's a lot like how I was influenced by Phil Spector."

Still, RZA says he would not make the move into filmmaking without Tarantino's explicit blessing.

"Tarantino is my teacher," RZA said solemnly, echoing -- whether intentionally or not -- the kind of dialogue you'd hear in a martial-arts film. "I've watched hundreds of movies with him and spent hundreds of hours learning craft from him. I'm a disciple of Tarantino."

He continued: "When Eli said, 'I want to help you make your movie,' we had to go to Quentin. The teacher. He said, 'You and Eli are ready. You have my blessing.' "

'The Tao of Wu'

Spend an afternoon with the RZA and, as any of his moviemaking consigliere will attest, you'll be hard-pressed not to be bowled over by the breadth of his polymathic learning. Conversation ricochets between electrical innovator Nikola Tesla and an extended recitation of what Five-Percent Nation of Islam followers call "the knowledge," from the travails of Job to RZA's sober recollection of fleeing New York's meanest streets with a stolen gold necklace, a Koran and a gun -- a story the producer elaborates on in his recently published memoir-spiritual enlightenment guide, "The Tao of Wu."

There's a 2nd page but I kept getting an error message when trying to get there.

[GeneChing]

I couldn't find the original WENN interview, but I only took the web search one page in...
8 January 2010 22:01
RZA - ROTH: 'RZA'S KUNG FU FILM WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY' (http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/roth-rzas-kung-fu-film-will-be-the-first-of-many_1129098)

Rapper RZA's new kung-fu film looks set to become a major movie franchise - if producer ELI ROTH has his way.
The filmmaker and Inglourious Basterds star has teamed up with the Wu-Tang Clan star, real name Robert Diggs, to make The Man With The Iron Fist - and Roth is convinced his pal will be able to turn the film into a series of cult hits.
He tells WENN, "RZA's one of the smartest, most creative people I have ever met. He's obsessed with movies the same way Quentin and I are, and his knowledge of the kung fu genre is nothing short of astounding. He knows everything, and everyone in it, and he's on a mission to reinvent the genre he loves.
"We worked together on the script all summer, and we have watched and discussed many, many movies. He's already got the soundtrack figured out. He understands every detail of the world.
"It's going to be something spectacular, unique, and original that stays true both to the genre and to RZA's fans. It's a really fun script. We see this film as the first step in a franchise."