Tag: Michael Jai White

Exclusive: Never Back Down 2 Interview With Scottie Epstein and Michael Jai White

(Video courtesy of YouTube/CP)

MMA flick Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown got its DVD release last week, which means it’s time to find out if Todd Duffee’s Oscar buzz is legit. We sent CagePotato L.A. correspondent Scott Palmer to a ‘NBD2‘ media event at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu West L.A. earlier this month, where he spoke to director/star Michael Jai White and co-star and one of the film’s fight choreographer’s Scottie “Einstein” Epstein about the movie-making process.

A few highlights and an incredible GIF of  the thespian version of The Duffman in action are after the jump.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/CP)

MMA flick Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown got its DVD release last week, which means it’s time to find out if Todd Duffee’s Oscar buzz is legit. We sent CagePotato L.A. correspondent Scott Palmer to a ‘NBD2‘ media event at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu West L.A. earlier this month, where he spoke to director/star Michael Jai White and co-star and one of the film’s fight choreographer’s Scottie “Einstein” Epstein about the movie-making process.

Check out some of the highlights and an incredible GIF of  the thespian version of The Duffman in action:


• Epstein says that they spent a lot of time making sure that the film’s fight scenes were as realistic as possible to avoid the scrutiny of fans, who take umbrage when MMA bouts in movies seem more like a scene from a Steven Segal film than an actual fight.

• MJW says that wearing the hats of director, actor, and fight coordinator wasn’t an easy task, but he feels he was up for the challenge.

• Epstein says MMA fans who have followed the sport for any length of time will have fun trying to figure out which actual fight finishes they mirrored the stoppages in NBD2 after.

• MJW compares Epstein’s behavior on set to that of crazy diva Diana Ross.

• There will be a Black Dynamite 2 as well as a BD cartoon.

• Scott was in a movie years ago with Mike Tyson, Robert Downey Jr, Scott Caan, Jared Leto, Bijou Phillips, Raekwon, Brooke Shields, Ben Stiller, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Sticky Fingaz and Chuck Zito.

The movie is available in stores for purchase or you can buy or rent it online at outlets like Amazon and iTunes.

Check out the trailer HERE.

Exclusive: Scott Epstein, Eddie Bravo, Todd Duffee and Michael Jai White Tapped for Never Back Down II

(Shit just got real…at least more real than the first movie.)
I know what you’re thinking, "They’re making another Never Back Down movie?"
The answer is "yes," only this time around the studio is gearing the film towards MMA fans …


(Shit just got real…at least more real than the first movie.)

I know what you’re thinking, "They’re making another Never Back Down movie?"

The answer is "yes," only this time around the studio is gearing the film towards MMA fans and not the popped collar American Eagle pink polo shirt sporting crowd of its predecessor, which earned $41-million at the box office.

They’ve made some steps in the right direction by hiring longtime martial arts practitioner Michael Jai White to direct this darker installment and to give it what he calls "more of a ‘The Dark Knight’ feel" and less of a "Melrose Place vibe." White knows first hand what that entails, considering he starred as mob boss Gambol in the acclaimed second film of the Chris Nolan helmed Batman franchise.

Also adding some credibility and substance to the film will be 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo, who will write part of the score for, star in and help choreograph fight scenes for the movie, UFC heavyweight Todd Duffee, who will play one of the fighters in the film and 10th Planet black belt instructor Scott Epstein, who will do double-duty as the movie’s lead as well as a fight coordinator. 

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