“It’s such a privilege to be able to call what we do a career, and to call it a job. It’s absolutely insane.”
Through his trio of martial arts films – Merantau (2009), The Raid (2011) and The Raid 2 (2014) – filmmaker Gareth Evans helped to put Indonesian action cinema on the map, launched the careers of a new generation of fight stars (including Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman), and created some of the most exhilarating, inventive, and game-changing fight sequences of modern times. Not bad for a young filmmaker from South Wales, who grew up watching Jackie Chan films with his dad, who chose to invest in a video camera when he turned 17 instead of learning to drive. Following his adventures in Indonesia, Evans has since returned to Wales where he has been developing a range of projects exploring new mediums and genres, including the British gothic horror, Apostle (2018) – available on Netflix – and the nine-part TV series, Gangs of London, which lands on Sky Atlantic in the UK on 23 April 2020. The show, based on a computer game, sees Evans return to a contemporary action setting, working alongside his frequent collaborator, UK stunt coordinator Jude Poyer (featured in Episode 48), with a story focusing on the fall-out following the death of a gang leader. Listen as Evans explains how he believes Gangs of London contains some of his finest action work, as well as exploring the steps that led to him creating The Raid films, often regarded by critics and fans alike as two of the best modern-day martial arts films of all time. We also investigate the possibility of a reunion with Iko Uwais, the secrets to his visceral style, and what other genres he would still like to explore. This conversation was recorded in London in early March 2020 before a UK government lockdown following the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest Gareth Evans news, follow him on Instagram.
Gareth Evans on the set of The Raid 2 (2014). Image via IMDb.
Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais, 2014. Image via IMDb.
Gareth Evans with Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast host, Ben Johnson.
