During filming in Ninh Binh, Johnny Tri Nguyen portrays the protector of King Dinh Tien Hoang's tomb against enemy sabotage.
Johnny Tri Nguyen stated he accepted the role, marking his return to the screen after nearly 10 years, because he deeply appreciated the character's story: a warrior sacrificing personal happiness for a greater cause, charging into battle during national turmoil. He and the crew emphasized authenticity in action scenes, spending six months before filming to develop various martial arts moves with stunt performers.
The cast spent several months training with weapons, as the film features combat scenes using swords and sabers. "This is the most action-packed project I have ever been part of. Films of this genre typically have one fight sequence every 10 to 15 minutes, but in Ho linh trang si, the frequency is twice as high," Johnny Tri Nguyen said.
A representative for the producers stated that General Huu's armor is one of the film's most invested costumes. The armor pieces are made from thick cowhide, laser-engraved with patterns, then individually cut, punched, and hand-painted. The fabric and leather materials were treated to achieve muted, aged colors, creating the impression that the character had endured many battles.
The crew invested in the weaponry system for General Huu and the film's deputy general, crafting hundreds of items including long and short swords, bows, spears, halberds, arrow launchers, shields, and various grappling hooks. A crew representative stated that to balance authenticity with on-set safety, they experimented with various materials, from iron, wood, and aluminum to titanium.
Johnny Tri Nguyen, 52, was born in Binh Duong and moved to the United States with his family at the age of 8. After working as an overseas singer and a stunt performer in Hollywood, he returned to Vietnam as an actor, gaining fame with films like Dong mau anh hung, Nu hon than chet, Hon Truong Ba - da hang thit, Bay rong, and Teo em. After "Fan cuong" (2016), co-starring Thai Hoa, the artist limited his domestic artistic activities. From 2017 until this project, Johnny Tri Nguyen had not participated in any Vietnamese film projects.
Occasionally, he appeared in supporting roles in Hollywood films, such as "Da 5 Bloods" (2020), a 45 million USD production released on Netflix and directed by Spike Lee. In 2023, he featured in "The Continental: From the World of John Wick" (a prequel to John Wick), acting alongside Nhung Kate, his former girlfriend. Beyond training, the actor embraces a meditative lifestyle to achieve mindfulness.
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Johnny Tri Nguyen is both an actor and martial arts director in "Ho linh trang si". Photo: Film crew provided |
"Ho linh trang si: Bi an mo vua Dinh" (The Mystery of King Dinh's Tomb) was an idea director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh nurtured for 10 years, after hearing a story from a boatman in Ninh Binh. The film is a historical fantasy, opening with the assassination of King Dinh Tien Hoang.
7 warriors are entrusted with a mission: racing against time, confronting hostile forces, and transporting 100 coffins of the king in 7 directions. The objective is to mislead enemies intent on desecrating the king's tomb.
The film crew cast actors in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi from mid-may 2025, filming for three months. Besides the two main actors, Tuan Tran and Thien Tu, supporting characters include Tu Long as the shaman, Do Thi Hai Yen as the empress, and Hua Vi Van as the civil mandarin. Musician Quoc Trung is responsible for the music, and Nguyen K'Linh, the cinematographer for the film "Dia dao", serves as D.O.P (director of photography). The work is expected to be released on the national day holiday on 2/9.
Mai Nhat
