Exclusive: Preview ‘Art of Eight Limbs’ & ‘The Lockdown’ Martial Arts Double Feature

Mortal Kombat's Ludi Lin stars in 'Art of Eight Limbs'; Caity Lotz and Leo Howard headline 'The Lockdown', in a new era of martial arts cinema.

Christopher De Santiago | Aug 8, 2024

via Republic Pictures /

Fight fans will have something to look forward to later this month.

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Martial arts movies are back in a big way, as Tiger Style Media has announced the arrival of two new films accompanied by some familiar faces. Actor Ludi Lin (Mortal Kombat, Power Rangers) takes the lead in Art of Eight Limbs while Caity Lotz (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow) and Leo Howard (Kickin' It, GI Joe: Rise of Cobra) star in The Lockdown.

Art Of Eight Limbs

Ludi Lin in 'Art of Eight Limbs' (2024) /

From a producer of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and directed by Robert Gasmere, the first film of the double-feature, Art of Eight Limbs follows Lin as a CIA data analyst and part-time kickboxer that's been tasked with taking down a high-end criminal operation while also competing in a deadly martial arts tournament in Myanmar.

Watch the trailer for Art of Eight Limbs below.

No stunt doubles are necessary for this film nor are they in The Lockdown, which like Art of Eight Limbs shows shades of Bruce Lee's iconic Enter The Dragon in both its story and fight scenes.

The Lockdown

Directed by Ryan Jaeger (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, The Hateful Eight), The Lockdown follows the story of siblings Charlie and Jack as they venture to Myanmar to see their long-last dad in a prison that's far from normal.

Falling victim to a crime they didn't commit, characters Charlie and Jack join their father behind bars with their only chance at getting out being the kickboxing ring inside the prison walls where inmates fight for their freedom or die trying.

Caity Lotz in 'The Lockdown' (2024) /

The underground fights are televised from the prison itself with its promoters trying to re-create something like the UFC, from highlight-reel finishes to building fighters you want to root for. Though, the stakes couldn't be any higher, as every fight could be your last with death row waiting for the loser...

Watch the trailer to The Lockdown below.

Release Dates

The martial arts double-feature releases to select theatres on Aug. 16, with Art of Eight Limbs arriving to digital on Aug. 20 and The Lockdown on Aug. 27.

Keep an eye out for an exclusive interview with Caity Lotz on SI's MMA Knockout in the coming days.