Magnet Releasing Takes US Rights To "BKO: Bangkok Knockout"

The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired US rights to Panna Rittikrai’s BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT from Sahamongkol. Panna Rittkrai is a legend in Thai action cinema. The director of Born to Fight and fight coordinator for such classics as Ong Bak and Chocolate, he was the star of many action films in the 70s and 80s, and is famously a mentor to some of the top action superstars working today, including Tony Jaa (Ong Bak), Dan Chupong (Dynamite Warrior) and Jija Yanin (Chocolate).

BKO features a range of martial art disciplines.  A group of 'fight club' pals whose styles vary from Muay Thai and Capoeira to Kung Fu and Tai Chi must fight for their lives when one of their friends is kidnapped.

"BKO is a bigger, badder, crazier BORN TO FIGHT, and further proof that Panna and Sahamongkol do death-defying action better than anyone," said Magnet SVP Tom Quinn.

"BKO is a pet project of our action choreographer, Panna Rittikrai and Magnet is the perfect partner to be working with in getting the movie released in the US," said Sahamongkol's Gilbert Lim. "We are very excited to be working together again on this action-adventure with amazing crazy stunts."

Magnet's Quinn negotiated the deal with Sahamongkol’s Lim. Magnet will release BKO in 2011.