Thai action back in action with Fighting Fish

Seems like it's taking forever for Tom Yum Goong 2 with Thailand's leading action stars Tony Jaa and company. Production has reportedly wrapped up, but it won't be until next year before we see the film.

In the meantime, there's Fighting Fish (ดุ ดวล ดิบ, Du Duan Dib), which was released in Thai cinemas this week.

The story is about a French expat ex-boxer who becomes friends with a Thai fighter ("JJ" Jakkris Kanokpojnanon). The pair then get mixed up in an underground boxing club.

The Frenchman is portrayed by Jawed El Berni, a stuntman who's made a name for himself as the double for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

In Fighting Fish, fans of Thai action films might recognize Suchao Pongvilai as the mob boss from his turn as the villain in Ong-Bak. French-Vietnamese stunt performer Kazu Patrick Tang from Raging Phoenix and BKO: Bangkok Knockout also turns up.

Produced by Saga Studios, Fighting Fish is helmed by a seemingly unlikely director – former pin-up model and sexy video star "Ying" Julaluck Kittiyarath (จุฬาลักษณ์ กฤติยารัตน์). A decade ago she starred in the controversial erotic mermaid fantasy Phra-Apai-Mani (พระอภัยมณี), based on the Suntorn Phu epic poem.

Since then, she's gotten married and had a baby with French martial artist and stunt performer David Ismalone – none other than Mad Dog from Ong-Bak.

Rechristened as Julaluck Isamalone, Ying recently relaunched her acting career playing a villain in Bangkok Revenge, starring Jon Foo, one of the bad guys who fought Tony Jaa in the first Tom Yum Goong.

And now, with all those connections to past Thai action films and experience of her own, she's making her directorial debut with Fighting Fish.

Check out the trailer (embedded below) as well as more clips on the Saga Studios channel.