Indonesian Action Star Iko Uwais On His Netflix Show Wu Assassins And The Possibility Of Starring In A John Wick Movie

When Iko Uwais initially came on board Wu Assassins, he signed up as the action choreographer. But when showrunner John Wirth saw what he did, he decided to extend Uwais’ scope of responsibilities by throwing in the lead role of Kai as well. “I was surprised he offered the part to me,” says Uwais, who also received a co-executive producer credit. Making his debut on American serialised drama was a steep learning curve, says Uwais. Besides having to do the show in English, Uwais had to keep up with the demands of different directors and producers — including Stephen Fung (Into the Badlands) — with creating the action sequences for each episode.

On Wu Assassins, Uwais plays a master chef, and if you think he can whip up a sumptuous three-course meal for real, well, he had you fooled. (It’s called acting, folks). No siree, he’s merely a master at pretending to be a master chef. “I can only boil water,” says Uwais on the extent of his kitchen prowess. All he had to do was to mimic the culinary moves of the professional chefs who were hired as consultants. The one thing he didn’t fake was his way around a knife. Confirms his co-star Tzi Ma, who plays Kai’s neighbour, Mr Young on the show, in a separate interview with 8 DAYS. “He’s really good with a knife,” says Tzi Ma. “It’s really him doing it on the show!”

On his meteoric rise from an Indonesian martial artist to an international — or intergalactic, if you count his cameo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens — action star, Uwais says humbly, “I’m proud to bring honour to Indonesia in the international arena.” But he’s still learning the ropes,” he adds. And one of the things the father of two daughters picked up from working in Hollywood is the importance of better working hours. “In the US, [because of union rules,] they work 12 hours,” says Uwais, who once spent two consecutive days shooting a fight scene for an Indonesian movie. “That is the thing I’m going to advocate at home — it’s important to respect time and other people’s time."

Ronda Rousey (Mile 22), Tony Jaa (Triple Threat), Dave Bautista (Stuber), and our own Sunny Pang (Headshot) — Uwais has faced many formidable opponents onscreen. Is there anyone else on his wish list? “Jackie Chan and Dwayne Johnson,” he says. What about Keanu Reeves, whom Uwais worked with on his directorial debut Man of Tai Chi? When we broached the possibility of Uwais in a John Wick movie because his Raid co-stars Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian were in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, he says, “I can’t tell, bro,” with a chuckle, and a playful look that may be construed as ‘I know something you don’t. “Fingers crossed, fingers crossed,” he continues. “Hopefully, why not, if given a chance.”

Wu Assassins, Triple Threat, Headshot, and The Night Comes For Us are streaming on Netflix; Mile 22 premieres on HBO Go (via Toggle) on Oct 26. Stuber is now in cinemas.

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos, Netflix