Iko Uwais and Albert Hughes Team Up for Multi-Generational Crime Series JAKARTA
If you're a fan of Iko Uwais throwing down in bone-crunching action movies, there's an exciting new project on the horizon that sounds like it could be something special.
The action star is stepping into television once again, this time leading Jakarta, a new multi-generational family crime series that's currently in development at Alcon Entertainment.
Albert Hughes is also set to direct the pilot and serve as the show's producing director, bringing together two creative forces with a strong track record for gritty, character-driven storytelling.
The series comes from writers Kirk Ward and Joshua W. Wagner, with Ward also taking on showrunner duties. This marks the second collaboration between Ward and Hughes after the pair worked together on The Continental, Peacock's John Wick prequel event series.
Now they're shifting their focus to Indonesia with a crime drama that's aiming to blend family conflict, organized crime, and intense action into one sweeping story.
Set against the backdrop of Indonesia's rapidly evolving capital city, Jakarta follows a multi-generational crime family as the city changes around them through globalization.
While plot details are still being kept under wraps, the setting alone offers a refreshing change from the usual crime drama locations, and pairing that with Uwais' signature martial arts style makes this one worth keeping an eye on.
Uwais has built a worldwide following thanks to unforgettable performances in films like The Raid and The Raid 2, along with projects such as Wu Assassins and the upcoming Road House 2.
His blend of athleticism, speed, and brutally choreographed Silat action has made him one of the most respected action stars working today, and it sounds like Jakarta will give him another opportunity to showcase those talents in a long-form story.
Hughes, meanwhile, brings decades of filmmaking experience to the project. The director is known for acclaimed films including Menace II Society and The Book of Eli, and his eye for grounded, character-focused storytelling should be an interesting match with Uwais' action-heavy style.
Ward, Wagner, Hughes, and Uwais will all executive produce the series, with Uwais producing through his Uwais Pictures banner alongside Ryan Santoso.
The project is being developed by Alcon Entertainment, the studio behind acclaimed productions such as Blade Runner 2049 and The Expanse, giving Jakarta another impressive name attached as it moves forward.
As if that wasn't enough, Uwais has a busy slate ahead. He's also set to star in John Radel's Warrior, an Indonesian action thriller that brings him back to the Silat-based fighting style that helped launch his career.
On top of that, he'll lead the hospital siege thriller MRI, directed by Liam O'Donnell, who reunites with the actor for their third collaboration following Beyond Skyline and the upcoming Skyline: Warpath.
A sprawling crime saga set in Indonesia with one of the world's best action stars leading the charge sounds like it has all the ingredients to deliver something fresh for television audiences.
Source: Variety