So, what can you share about Olivia Popica’s role as the movie’s protagonist? Introducing the Main Protagonist, Olivia Popica
Only not with the budget of “Mad Max”, which I wish I had! (Both laugh) The premise sounds like “Mad Max: Fury Road” with MMA. Our lead gets kidnapped and put into that scenario and it’s about her revolting her way out. The setting is kind of an “Eyes Wide Shut” fighting arena, where they kidnap these girls who are really talented fighters, from all over the world and they make them fight brutally, sometimes to the death. There are no characters that are similar, there are no storylines that are similar. But this particular “Never Back Down” is going to feel nothing like the other films in the series. I was a big fan of “Never Back Down”, I thought it was really well done, and then Michael Jai White had done the other movies and they had some great scenes, and were really exciting. It’ll feel 100 percent different! (Both laugh) It’ll be a completely different movie. How does “Revolt” compare to the earlier franchise entries?
So, the movie seems to involve quite a different premise from the other “Never Back Down” movies. Yes, absolutely, and I had tried to get “The Gate” feature set up with Craig and David at one point, so it was nice that I had established a relationship already with two producers.
Yes, I was about to ask if “The Gate” played a role. I was pretty much one of the first on their list that they thought about because they had seen “The Gate” and were familiar with some of my other work. The script for “Revolt” is completely female-empowered, and they were looking for a female writer, so they hired Audrey Arkins, and they were also looking for a female director, so they reached out to me.
The “Never Back Down” series had been with Sony previously with 2 and 3, and they were gearing up to do the fourth. Well, the producers Craig Baumgarten and David Zelon came to me with the offer, they knew about my work. We’re all doing what we can to survive it! Well let’s dive right into “Never Back Down 4: Revolt”. How Kellie got Involved in “Never Back Down 4: Revolt” Michael Bisping will take on villainous duties in Never Back Down 4 Revoltīollywood actress Neetu Chandra stars in NBD 4 And the apocalypse has been pretty good for me! Hi Kellie, welcome back to Kung Fu Kingdom! Great to connect with you and we hope you’re keeping well during the pandemic? She also gives us insights into other projects she has coming up, including a possible “Never Back Down 5”! Today, Kellie sits down with KFK to share a look behind-the-scenes at the making of “Never Back Down 4: Revolt”, from the demanding martial-arts action infused into it, to the challenges of making an MMA movie under the filmmaking safety protocols of the pandemic. For “Revolt”, Kellie and her cast dealt with all of the usual bumps and bruises inherent in action filmmaking, with the added challenge of having to work around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.įortunately, with everyone’s determined spirit, Kellie’s leadership, and the lighthearted presence of MMA great, Michael “The Count” Bisping, “Revolt” made it to the finish line, with fans of the series now eager to see it drop. Having worked both in front of, and behind the camera, Kellie first came to the attention of action fans with her 2016 action short “The Gate”. The “Never Back Down” series first kicked off in 2008, and true to its title, it always returns for another beatdown in the Octagon! Continuing with “ Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown ” in 2011, and later with “ Never Back Down: No Surrender ” in 2016, the franchise is set to jump into its fourth chapter with the upcoming “Never Back Down 4: Revolt”, with filmmaker Kellie Madison stepping into the director’s chair.