Eddie Peng (The Great Wall, Black Dog) and Ewan Mitchell (Saltburn, Wuthering Heights) are teaming up to star in actioner The Healer, the feature directorial debut of acclaimed action stunt coordinator and second unit director Can Aydin (Thunderbolts, The Fall Guy, Disney’s 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' series).

Highland Film Group and 66cc are launching international sales on the film in Cannes.

Peng and Mitchell will be joined in the film by Smylie Bradwell (Hamnet, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping), Georgina Beedle (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and Jameela Jamil (The Good Place, People We Meet on Vacation).

Molly Hassell (The Crow, Return to Silent Hill) produces the actioner for Hassell Free Productions alongside Electric Shadow (Cliffhanger 2, The Uprising), with Jason Eric Laciste (Braven, The Last Manhunt), Dejan Ahrens, and Jonah Greenberg (Cave Rescue).

The Healer is set in a city governed by shadows, where a blind acupuncturist (Eddie Peng) lives a life of quiet ritual, using heightened senses to mend bodies the world has broken. Once a weapon trained to destroy, The Healer traded violence for peace — until Soly (Bradwell), a young patient he vowed to protect, becomes the target of ruthless gang boss Dandy Lynch (Mitchell). Carrying the weight of his past, The Healer is forced back into a brutal underworld, fighting with surgical precision and a dangerous knowledge of the human body to reach the boy before he becomes another innocent casualty.

Ahrens was also a major financier of the project through his Marder Films. Additional financing was provided by Vivian Tarn’s and Karam Almasri’s Riviera Content, Taiden Audio-Visual Production Co., and East West Bank, all arranged by Hungary’s Rosebud Finance Kft. The production was undertaken in association with Victor Hadida’s Davis Films.

Jeffrey Chan’s 66cc is handling Asian sales, with Highland Film Group representing all other international rights. CAA Media Finance is handling the US. Sales launch in Cannes. Production recently wrapped in Budapest, Hungary.

“It’s rare to see two such talented actors go head-to-head — Eddie Peng and Ewan Mitchell are our crown jewels,”’ said Hassell. “They give performances that are simply awe-inspiring and well represent what makes this film so unique: great acting combined with a compelling story that audiences around the world are going to love watching.”

Lauded as one of Asia’s new generation of action heroes, Peng starred in Guan Hu’s Black Dog, Un Certain Regard winner at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in 2024. He made his English-language debut in The Great Wall, alongside Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, and Willem Dafoe. Mitchell portrayed Aemond Targaryen in the Emmy-winning HBO’s fantasy series House of the Dragon and starred in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, reuniting with the director in Warner Bros.’ romance Wuthering Heights. He is currently filming Justine Triet’s Fonda with Mia Goth, Odessa A’zion, Andrew Scott and Allison Janney.

“Eddie Peng is a major star, both in Asia and globally. The picture just wrapped shooting, and the early footage we’ve seen looks absolutely incredible!” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “The fight choreography is impressive, with a scale, cinematic ambition and commercial appeal that will strongly resonate with international audiences.” added Highland COO Delphine Perrier.

“I’m deeply grateful to Molly for inviting me on board and thrilled to be able to re-unite with Eddie after almost a decade since Unbeatable and Operation Mekong,” said Jeffrey Chan. “Having become so successful, Eddie is still the same talented and dedicated young man in The Healer, and this film will surely take him to the next level of success on the international stage.”

Peng is repped by Amelia Hung and CAA, and Mitchell by Independent Talent Group and CAA.

By Alex Ritman, Variety