As shooting becomes imminent for “The Martial Arts Kid”, co-producer and kickboxing legend Cheryl Wheeler Duncan grows more excited and confident about the film’s prospects – both artistically and commercially.
“We’re going to have what I like to tell (fellow “Martial Arts Kid” co-producer) James Wilson is a $3 million picture on a budget that’s not even close to that”, says Wheeler-Duncan of the film co-headlined by martial arts/action-movie legends Cynthia Rothrock and Don “The Dragon” Wilson, who portray the aunt and uncle of a lonely and bullied teen. .
“That’s what I love about this”, Wheeler-Duncan continues. “Everybody taking their cuts and taking some percentage on the back end to put together a project that is going to knock it out of the ballpark as far as this stuff is concerned.”
“The Martial Arts Kid” tells the tale of a troubled teen named Robbie who moves to Cocoa Beach, Florida from Detroit after his grandmother has had enough of his antics. He soon realizes that everywhere he goes there is somebody who doesn’t want him to be happy… and in Cocoa Beach, that somebody is Bo Whitelaw, the toughest and most popular guy at the high school.
From the moment Bo gives Robbie a beat-down in front of Rina (the prettiest girl in school), we know Robbie’s chances of living in a happy neighborhood are just not realistic. To help Robbie stand a chance of survival in a dangerous teen world, his estranged Aunt Cindy and Uncle Glenn (played by Rothrock and Wilson) coach and train Robbie to learn how to defend himself.
“I really feel this is going to be a great movie and I wouldn’t waste my time with it if i didn’t think it was”, says Wheeler-Duncan.
“The Martial Arts Kid” is scheduled to hit theaters in 2015.
