Lionsgate unveils the official trailer for their upcoming action flick American Fighter, which debuts next month. American Fighter is a sequel to the the 2016 film American Wrestler: The Wizard, which focused on the story of young aspiring fighter Ali Jahani (George Kosturos). Ali's story is partially inspired by producer Ali Ashfar's high school experiences, which saw him move from Iran to California in the 1980s. When faced with anti-Iranian sentiments after the 1980 Iran hostage crisis, Ali joins his high school's wrestling team in the hopes of learning to fit in.
Directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino, American Fighter will pick up with Ali once more, this time as he's trying to raise the funds to help his ailing mother. With no other way to make money, Ali turns to the gritty world of underground fighting. His lack of skill leads to some severe beatdowns, but a troubled handler named Duke (Sean Patrick Flanery) soon agrees to train him. American Fighter also stars Sons of Anarchy's Tommy Flanagan; both he and Flanery are new additions to the series.
Lionsgate has released the official trailer for American Fighter, which plunges viewers right into Ali's journey. At its core, American Fighter promises to be an underdog story, and the trailer has all the hallmarks of that classic tale. Naturally, there are more than a few brutal fights on display as well. Check it out down below.
Lionsgate will release American Fighter in select theaters and on video on demand on May 21; not long after, on May 25, the film will be available for purchase on Blu-ray and DVD. It's an unconventional release plan, but one that fits with the strange times of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, for fans of movies like Rocky and The Fighter, American Fighter feels like the perfect film to either watch in a theater or catch at home on VOD. Ali's story, already a compelling one thanks to his American Wrestler beginnings, will take a new turn here, and his determination to aid his mother will lend some heart to the film in between the brutal fight scenes.
Flanery remains best known for his role in The Boondock Saints, and fans of that film will surely enjoy seeing him take on a mentor position in Ali's journey. Kosturos returns as Ali once more for American Fighter, and it'll be interesting to see how he's evolved over the years. American Fighter first played at film festivals in 2019 and was released in select territories internationally last year; next month marks its official United States debut. Be sure to check it out when it debuts.
Source: Lionsgate Movies