{"id":1028,"date":"2026-04-26T06:32:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T06:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfests.art\/?p=1028"},"modified":"2026-04-26T06:32:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T06:32:02","slug":"lionsgate-scores-tiff-2025-midnight-madness-the-furious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfests.art\/?p=1028","title":{"rendered":"Lionsgate Scores TIFF 2025 Midnight Madness ‘The Furious’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lionsgate acquires “The Furious” (Toronto International Film Festival Midnight Madness selection). A tradesman fights crime to save his abducted daughter; 2026 release.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Lionsgate has secured extensive global distribution rights for Bill Kong\u2019s highly anticipated action-thriller, The Furious<\/em>, following its buzz-generating premiere as a Midnight Madness selection at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. This significant acquisition, which excludes mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, positions the film for a major theatrical rollout in 2026, marking a pivotal moment for international genre cinema on the global stage.<\/p>\n

Toronto International Film Festival: A Global Launchpad for Genre Acquisitions<\/h2>\n

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) consistently affirms its reputation as a crucial marketplace for film acquisitions, and the Midnight Madness section, in particular, has become a hotbed for discovering high-octane, audience-pleasing genre fare. The Furious<\/em>, with its thrilling narrative and stellar action pedigree, emerged as a standout title, captivating industry buyers and setting the stage for this substantial distribution deal. For an independent film, securing a major distributor like Lionsgate directly out of its film festival premiere is a testament to both the project’s inherent quality and the strategic importance of TIFF as a launching pad. This trend underscores how a strong festival showing can significantly impact a film’s commercial viability, turning critical and audience buzz into concrete global release plans. The competitive atmosphere at TIFF often leads to quick turnarounds for promising titles, allowing distributors to capitalize on immediate excitement and plan long-term strategies, as evidenced by Lionsgate’s ambitious 2026 release schedule for this project.<\/p>\n

Lionsgate\u2019s Strategic Play: Expanding Global Reach with ‘The Furious’<\/h2>\n

The acquisition of The Furious<\/em> by Lionsgate is a clear strategic move, indicating the studio’s ongoing commitment to a diverse slate that includes internationally produced, high-concept action cinema. Planning a 2026 theatrical release demonstrates considerable confidence in the film’s broad appeal and its potential box office performance across multiple territories. This multi-year lead time also allows for comprehensive marketing and distribution strategies to be meticulously crafted. The film’s pedigree, with producer Bill Kong\u2014known for iconic works such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon<\/em> and Hero<\/em>\u2014lending his formidable expertise, undoubtedly played a crucial role in attracting a distributor of Lionsgate’s caliber. Furthermore, the involvement of XYZ Films, celebrated for its work on genre powerhouses like The Raid<\/em> franchise, further solidified The Furious<\/em>\u2019s appeal as a commercially potent independent film. This particular distribution deal highlights the intricate nature of global film rights, with specific carve-outs for the Chinese market managed by Edko Films, ensuring a day-and-date release across these key Asian territories alongside Lionsgate’s worldwide rollout.<\/p>\n

Behind the Action: The Creative Forces Powering ‘The Furious’<\/h2>\n

At the helm of The Furious<\/em> is veteran action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki, making his feature directorial debut, promising an authentic and expertly crafted cinematic experience. The screenplay, a collaborative effort by Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zhilong, Shum Kwan Sin, and Frank Hui, weaves a compelling narrative around a humble tradesman who partners with a troubled journalist to confront a criminal empire and rescue his abducted daughter. The ensemble cast is packed with talent renowned in the action genre, featuring Xie Miao, along with Joe Taslim from The Raid<\/em>, Yang Enyou, Brian Le, Yayan Ruhian, Jija Yanin, Joey Iwanaga, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul. This assembly of skilled performers and martial artists is a clear indicator of the film’s commitment to delivering exhilarating, high-quality action sequences. The collaborative production effort between Bill Kong\u2019s Edko Films and XYZ Films, with executive producers including Nate Bolotin, Todd Brown, Maxime Cottray, Nick Spicer, Aram Tertzakian, Michael J. Werner, and Xu Tianfu, signifies a robust international partnership designed to bring this ambitious vision to life on a global scale.<\/p>\n

As 2026 approaches, anticipation will undoubtedly build for the worldwide theatrical premiere of The Furious<\/em>. This significant acquisition and distribution deal out of the Toronto International Film Festival solidifies the film’s potential to be a major player in the international action genre, and film enthusiasts globally will be eager to see the collaboration of these powerhouse talents unfold on the big screen. We anticipate further details regarding the film’s marketing campaign and specific release dates as the project moves closer to its global debut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Quick Facts<\/h2>\n

What is the plot of the film The Furious?<\/h3>\n

The film tells the story of a humble tradesman who teams up with a troubled journalist to battle a criminal network and rescue his abducted daughter.<\/p>\n

Which company acquired most of the world rights for The Furious?<\/h3>\n

Lionsgate has picked up most of the world distribution rights for The Furious, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.<\/p>\n

When is The Furious scheduled for theatrical release?<\/h3>\n

Lionsgate plans a 2026 theatrical release for The Furious, with Edko Films also releasing it day-and-date in China, Hong Kong, and Macao that year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Related Festivals:<\/strong> Toronto International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival<\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong> Toronto International Film Festival 2026, The Furious, Lionsgate acquisition, Midnight Madness selection, Bill Kong<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lionsgate acquires “The Furious” (Toronto International Film Festival Midnight Madness selection). A tradesman fights crime to save his abducted daughter; 2026 release. Lionsgate has secured extensive global distribution rights for Bill Kong\u2019s highly anticipated action-thriller, The Furious, following its buzz-generating premiere as a Midnight Madness selection at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. This significant …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nLionsgate Scores TIFF 2025 Midnight Madness 'The Furious' - Film Fests<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lionsgate Scores TIFF 2025 Midnight Madness 'The Furious' - Film Fests\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lionsgate acquires “The Furious” (Toronto International Film Festival Midnight Madness selection). 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