ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong says upcoming Hollywood film “The Beast In Me” starring Russell Crowe will be a “dream come true for Thailand”.
Production will begin in December, and culminate at a ONE Friday Fights quarterly “tentpole” event on January 24 at Bangkok’s Impact Arena.
Chatri revealed Academy Award winner Crowe, who co-wrote the script, approached his team earlier this summer with “very strong interest” in ONE being an integral part of the film’s storyline.
“This is not just a cameo,” Chatri told the media during last week’s ONE Friday Fights 81 press conference.
“Russell is an ex-fighter turned coach in ONE; his student is an ex-fighter who used to be a world champion in ONE, and he’s coming back because his brother got injured by an illegal blow in ONE.
“The whole movie is interwoven [with ONE], and they will shoot a live sequence within our event.
“I was very impressed with the producers’ vision for the movie when I met them. A Hollywood blockbuster with an A-lister like Russell Crowe, this has all the makings of a massive global blockbuster hit. So we’re very excited.”
Chatri said the film “is a real partnership” and revealed ONE has input on the script to “make sure there is authenticity”.
“You’ll see a lot of our superstars in the movie,” he added. “You’ll see some gym owners and promoters.
“I specifically asked for the final scene to be shot in Thailand. I’m doing everything in my power to bring Thailand to the world stage of sports and business, and bringing Muay Thai and ONE to the world.
“A blockbuster, A -Grade Hollywood movie with an A-List star like Russell Crowe … It is a dream come true for me and I think for Thailand too.
The film will also shoot in the United States and Australia, Chatri said.
Production will begin in December, and culminate at a ONE Friday Fights quarterly “tentpole” event on January 24 at Bangkok’s Impact Arena.
Chatri revealed Academy Award winner Crowe, who co-wrote the script, approached his team earlier this summer with “very strong interest” in ONE being an integral part of the film’s storyline.
“This is not just a cameo,” Chatri told the media during last week’s ONE Friday Fights 81 press conference.
“Russell is an ex-fighter turned coach in ONE; his student is an ex-fighter who used to be a world champion in ONE, and he’s coming back because his brother got injured by an illegal blow in ONE.
“The whole movie is interwoven [with ONE], and they will shoot a live sequence within our event.
“I was very impressed with the producers’ vision for the movie when I met them. A Hollywood blockbuster with an A-lister like Russell Crowe, this has all the makings of a massive global blockbuster hit. So we’re very excited.”
Chatri said the film “is a real partnership” and revealed ONE has input on the script to “make sure there is authenticity”.
“You’ll see a lot of our superstars in the movie,” he added. “You’ll see some gym owners and promoters.
“I specifically asked for the final scene to be shot in Thailand. I’m doing everything in my power to bring Thailand to the world stage of sports and business, and bringing Muay Thai and ONE to the world.
“A blockbuster, A -Grade Hollywood movie with an A-List star like Russell Crowe … It is a dream come true for me and I think for Thailand too.
The film will also shoot in the United States and Australia, Chatri said.
