Tony Jaa Returns with Ong Bak 3

With the success of Ong Bak 2, Tony Jaa’s newest movie Ong Bak 3 is already in production. It is a direct sequel to the darker, grittier Ong Bak 2 and a prequel to mega-successful Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior.

Sia Jiang, president of Sahamongkol Films International, mentioned to Daily Xpress that the film will feature more fights between Thai martial arts actor, Dan Chupong, and Tony Jaa.

Chupong started out as a part of the stunt team of martial arts choreographer Panna Rittikrai. He played a minor role in Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and then went on to leading roles in the 2004 film, Born to Fight and 2006 film Dynamite Warrior.

Jiang stated that "Ong Bak 2 is just the prologue," and that “the climax of the story comes in Ong Bak 3, with lots of excitement in the key action scenes, on which [they'll] be spending [much more money]."

In Ong Bak 2, the film is set in the regal times of King Naresuan. Tony Jaa plays Tien a man who was born into nobility but had it stripped from him after his parents were brutally murdered. 

After seeing his parents murdered at the tender age of 10, Tien lives on the streets and is taken in by a group of thieves who train him in the art of fighting. Years later, he will use all his skill and ingenuity to avenge his parents' killer.

One of the key scenes in the newest film will see elephants invading the palace.

Ong Bak 3 will actually take less time to make than the prior films, because there is still a large amount of unused footage shot for Ong Bak 2. Ong Bak 3 is slated for a December 2009 release in Thailand.

Already seen Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and Ong Bak 2 and feel like you know all things “Jaa”? Here are six more tidbits of information on the Thai superstar.

1. Jaa's real name is Panom Yeerum. Although he grew up in rural Thailand, he is actually of Cambodian descent.

2. Jaa grew up watching films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li at temple fairs, and learned to imitate their moves whilst creating his own, such as somersaulting off the backs of his family's elephants into the nearby river.

3. His role in the super-successful movie Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior required several years training in the ancient form of Muay Boran which is more deadly than the art of Muay Thai because it focuses on extremely powerful elbow and knee techniques thrown at full speed.

4. Tony was offered a chance to play the villain in Rush Hour 3 by none other than Jackie Chan. Unfortunately, he had to turn down the role because of scheduling conflicts with the shooting of Ong Bak 2.

5. Although he wasn't credited for it, Tony was Robin Shou's stunt double in the 1997 movie Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

6. Besides Muay Thai and Muay Boran, Jaa has also practiced and is skilled in Taekwondo, Judo, Aikido, swordsmanship, and gymnastics. He trains in these disciplines for at least 8 hours each day.

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