After creating the cult comedy (er, action movie) Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li director Andrzej Bartkowiak is gearing up to helm yet another entry in the genre. According to Deadline, the Polish director has been hired to helm Hannibal Production’s upcoming indie action film Beneath the Deep.
Written by Armand Speca, the film follows a “group of Caribbean tourists who become stranded due to natural forces and face unexpected visitors who view them as intruders, and a battle to survive begins.” Speca will also serve as the film’s executive producer.
This isn’t Bartkowiak‘s first experience with the action genre as he got his start behind the camera back in 2000 with Romeo Must Die, starring Jet Li, Aaliyah and Isaiah Washington. Since then, every film he’s directed has been an action film of some kind — other credits include Exit Wounds, Doom, and Cradle 2 the Grave.
Besides his directing filmography, Bartkowiak is also known for his cinematography and director of photography work. Lethal Weapon 4 and Speed are among his credits, leading me to believe he’s a perfect match to direct Beneath the Deep. Deep‘s billing as an indie flick could however affect Bartkowiak‘s ability to work with a smaller budget, considering most of his films have a budget of over 30 million dollars. Filming will begin in Puerto Rico in March and if you need proof of the hilarity of his last film, look no further thanks to Chris Klein.
Do you think Bartkowiak is a good match for Beneath the Deep? Do you also find Street Fighter to be a hilarious cult classic?