News

Cameras Roll for Halle Berry MMA Drama: Bruised!

If you’ve seen this summer’s action hit “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” (and if you haven’t, please correct that!), Halle Berry’s appearance as the title character’s begrudging ally, Sofia proved to be one of the major highlights of an action thriller with no shortage of them. Berry’s extensive training for the role, which she described as “life-changing”, really shows in the film’s show-stopping battle in Morocco. Having gotten into fighting shape with the best in the business for “Parabellum”, Berry is wasting no time in jumping into another action-heavy role; the upcoming MMA drama “Bruised”, which will also notably mark her directorial debut.

In addition to directing the movie, “Bruised” will also see Berry portray  Jackie “Justice”, a disgraced MMA fighter hoping to reconnect with her estranged son Manny. Ultimately, Jackie’s efforts to rebuild her relationship with her son lead her to attempt a comeback in the MMA world.

Filming got underway for “Bruised” earlier this month, though the production has seen a minor setback after Berry experienced an injury while filming a fight scene, though said injury is reportedly minor. The director herself has addressed the injury on social media, while praising her trainer for the film, Rob Constance, which you can see below.

Halle Berry knows her kung fu!

Halle Berry’s involvement

Berry explained what drew her to the film and the themes present in “Bruised” earlier this year in an interview with The Big Ticket with Mark Malkin podcast, along with sharing how the project came to be her first as director. With the role of Jackie having originally been written for, as Berry describes, “a 22 year-old white woman”, Berry became more creatively involved with the film following her casting, which lead to the producers offering her the opportunity to direct.

As Berry explained, “I thought, ‘I can’t direct, this is a big acting role for me, I don’t think I should be directing as well.’ And they gave me so much confidence and helped me realize that, ‘But nobody understands it like you. Its storytelling and we definitely feel confident that you’ve got the story.’ And so I put that hat on for a week or so and I thought about how that felt and I realized, after 25 years in the business there is a lot I know about filmmaking.”

Her training from “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” continues…

Berry also explained that her training for “Bruised” essentially carried over from that of “Parabellum”, and anyone whose seen the latter will readily agree that she easily held her own onscreen alongside series veteran Keanu Reeves. Berry also recently showed off the end result of her extensive training for the film on social media, as well, and her recent injury has clearly done little to dampen her spirit in the early days of production on “Bruised”, with Berry describing it as “par for the course when you do your own stunts” in another Instagram post. Coming on the heels of “Parabellum” while also marking Halle Berry’s first time directing, “Bruised” is an MMA drama that martial arts movie aficionados will definitely want to keep on their radar!

Stay tuned for more info on “Bruised” as news of its uppercuts land! Are you looking forward to seeing Halle Berry who you can follow on Instagram, get more martially artistic as well as make her directorial debut with “Bruised”? What are some of your favorite MMA movie fight moments? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram.

Would you rather get some virtual bruises in before the real ones? Hopefully we’ll still make a mark on you with KFK’s veritable Octagon of movie reviews, exclusive interviews, Top 5’s, Top 10’s, grab your exclusive KFK gear in time for Christmas and subscribe for more blistering action on YouTube!)

Brad Curran

From the earliest days of childhood, Brad Curran was utterly fascinated by martial arts, his passion only growing stronger after spending time living in the melting pot of Asian cultures that is Hawaii. His early exposure developed into a lifelong passion and fascination with all forms of martial arts and tremendous passion for action and martial arts films. He would go on to take a number of different martial arts forms, including Shaolin Ch'uan fa, Taekwondo, Shotokan Karate and remains a devoted student, avid and eager to continue his martial arts studies. Brad is also an aspiring writer and deeply desires to share his love for martial arts and martial arts movies with the world!

Recent Posts

Blades of the Guardians | UK Exclusive Sneak Peek

Blades of the Guardians delivers epic wuxia action, starring Jet Li, with Yuen Woo-ping’s masterful…

4 days ago

Kung Fu vs MMA: Why the Debate Misses the Point

The debate around kung fu vs MMA sparks constant discussion in martial arts communities —…

7 days ago

The Rise of Sanda and Chinese Striking in MMA

Sanda is gaining recognition in MMA. Learn how this Chinese combat sport blends striking and…

2 weeks ago

Reasons To Outsource the Shredding for Your Martial Arts Gym

Outsourcing shredding helps martial arts gyms protect member data, cut clutter, save staff time, and…

3 weeks ago

“The Furious” Trailer Finally Arrives, Martial Arts Action Ensemble Hits Theaters May 29th!

News feature on the trailer for the upcoming Hong Kong martial arts action ensemble “The…

4 weeks ago

Top 5 Kung Fu Techniques to Boost Focus for Baccarat Players

Baccarat is a beloved card game that has captivated players worldwide, especially in Canada, where…

1 month ago