“The Furious,” opening this Friday June 12, is one of the most creatively exciting adrenaline-packed films to reach the screen in years. It stars Joe Taslim, positioned to become the next great action movie star, following in tradition of his heroes, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and the legendary Bruce Lee.  After roles in the recent “Mortal Kombat 2” this could easily become his biggest breakout role.  In an exclusive interview we dive deep into his former career as a judo champion, the thrilling choreographed fight scenes, and the future of action cinema.

“The Furious” is reminiscent of “Taken,” with more action and more drama.
In the film the daughter of Wang Wei (Xie Miao) is kidnapped by a criminal network. After he receives no help from the corrupt police, Wei sets out on a rampage to find her himself. His only ally is Navin (Joe Taslim) – a relentless journalist whose wife has mysteriously disappeared.
Fueled by a furious vengeance, the unlikely duo ruthlessly fight against the kidnappers in this explosive martial arts showdown.

Taslim is an Indonesian actor, martial artist, and model. He was a member of Indonesia’s national judo team from 1997 to 2009, becoming a three-time medalist at the Southeast Asian Games, and a Gold medalist at the 2008 Pekan Olahraga Nasional.

Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat II (2026)

His film acting roles include Sergeant Jaka in The Raid (2011), Jah in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Manas in Star Trek Beyond (2016), and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat II (2026). He is also known for his role as Li Yong in the historical action drama television series Warrior (2019-2023).

The Furious

H: How would you describe “The Furious”?
Joe Taslin: “The Furious” is an action movie that will change how people watch action movies in the future. It’s a movie that has the most complex choreography, and it has me!

H: What would you say was the most challenging part of doing the film?
JT:  The most challenging part in this film for me, physically, is the final fight. But as an actor, it’s how to balance playing a grounded character that’s trying to survive from one fight to another.
Usually they always gave me a role that either I play a hero that always wins or a villain that’s very hard to kill.

H: Who is your character, Navin?
JT: This time, (director) Kenji (Tanigaki) wanted me to play a human being, a husband, and a journalist. He knows how to fight, but I think the most important thing about this character is his determination, his persistence. Knowing he has flaws, that he’s not a Kung Fu master, he always gets up and keeps fighting no matter what.
He always puts himself in danger to save those kids and to save their dream, him and his wife. They’ve dedicated their lives for those unlucky children.

H:  You talked a little bit about the choreography. Tell me about that. How was it planning the fight scenes?
JT:  Well, I gotta give it to Kensuke Sonomura (stunt coordinator), and Kenji. They designed those fights. It was hard.
Not just physically, but also our brain.
Every scene, every second, especially in the final fight, we have to always think about it. There’s a one versus one, two versus two, there’s a five way fight, everybody is trying to kill each other or fight with each other at the same time. That dynamic is always changing especially in the final fight. As an actor you have to always be aware of the choreography, but at the same time be aware of your motivation doing the choreography.

Usually there’s one linear thing, you want to kill your opponent, that’s it. Revenge, right? Now you’re fighting with your friend, and then the five-way fight. Almost like beautiful chaos. One guy fighting everybody.
And this poor character is confused, I don’t want to help him or I have to kill him but he’s helping me fight this guy but after that one guy they have to fight each other. That type of storytelling, that complexity in a fight; it’s the first time our action fans can see that.

H: And then when you bring in the props, like bicycles in one scene, and then there’s the wood and stairs and all that.

Joe Taslim in his Judo championship years

H: How did training in judo prepare you for your career in acting?
JT: A lot. Half of my life I used to be an athlete and train three times a day during my youth.
That’s all that was my life. Of course I didn’t party when I was young. I didn’t have romantic high school things when I was young. Since junior high school all my life was just dedication to my country, to my family, to honor my father, to honor myself. It’s all about victory, triumph.

Something happened in me that I learned so much about discipline, honor and loyalty. Even though I’m doing entertainment now, and this life as an actor is different, there’s still a strong connection.
This is my second life. I had my life as an athlete, and now my life as an actor. Because of my experience in my first life, all those beautiful things, and work ethic are here. I’m bringing all that into this second life. As an actor that helps me so much.
I used to be a person that always wanted to win, that’s the only way. Because if you don’t win you get kicked out of the team. My pressure every single night, before I go to bed, was like ‘I can’t lose, I can’t lose.’
I had that life, when I always wanted to win, but in this life I just want to have fun, no matter what.

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H: And while you were doing that, competing, did you plan on doing a transition to acting? Was that part of the goal?
JT: Yeah, since I was a kid I wanted to become an actor. But my dad, rest in peace, I love him so much, but he was a typical Asian dad, and he just said no. ‘You and your brothers are gonna do this.’
I said, ‘Why?’ I wanted to do the arts. I wanted to do music. I love the arts, better than trying to destroy people in the ring. But he said nope. ‘You listen to me and someday you’re gonna thank me.’
I gotta say he was right, after I won my first national championship and then joined the national team. He passed away and I realized if he didn’t push me life would put me in a different path. But I like this path. I like that I get to experience amazing things, pressure and pain, and now I’m an actor doing this life. There’s so much that I can bring to this new profession and I’m living the life I can’t complain about. I don’t want to change anything, even if I could turn back the time

H: When you were a kid, did you ever think about acting?
JT: Oh, yeah.

H: Who were some of the people you looked up to?
JT: When I was a kid my dad took me to watch Alain Delon’s movies, Chuck Norris, Jet Li and Jackie Chan movies.
I think back to when I grew up in South Sumatra, not in the capital of Indonesia. It’s an island South of Sumatra and cinemas, theaters, are the only entertainment we have.
Hollywood and Hong Kong movies, that’s what I grew up watching, and I fell in love with it.

H: Did you have a favorite actor?
JT: I was a fan of Bruce Lee, Jet Li. I think they’re great. And U.S. actors Daniel Day Lewis, Al Pacino, my inspiration, and many more.

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H: Now after this film, what’s next for you?
JT: I’m going with a flow, Francisco.
I don’t like to plan. Maybe this is something a bit different. I like to go with the flow. I believe the universe has a plan for me and my job is just to live day by day the best possible, and trying to be a good person, a good actor every single day. And what’s gonna happen I believe is synchronized beautifully. I think God has a plan for me.

H: Finally, what should people expect when they see this film?
JT: I believe this movie is an action movie that’s gonna change the perspectives of how you watch action movies. This will set the bar really high. And it’s beautiful for the genre. In order for this genre to survive. Now the world is unpredictable right, the genre itself needs to grow, and this is the type of movie that can grow the genre. People can tell the difference between good action movies, and  lazy action movies. We need good action movies.

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