Mark Wahlberg gets top billing, but there’s be no “Mile 22” without Iko Uwais.
Director Peter Berg said he was inspired to make the action-thriller, about an elite CIA task force, after seeing one of the Indonesian actor’s breakthrough hits, “The Raid.”
Berg recalled the scene that won him over:
“Iko is in the hallway and the door was locked and he looked up and there was like you know five guys and 10 guys and 15 guys. So Iko gets 15 guys. I’m like, ‘OK, this is—how is he going to get out of this? Like, you know, it’s going to be over the top. Like, I didn’t think it was going to be my thing. And the fight: first of all, the look of determination in his eyes and the emotion—I read that there’s really something going on inside of him.”
The 35-year-old Uwais is highly regarded for his artful take on the Indonesian martial art of Silat, which he’s been practicing since childhood.
“You know, I grew up in Jakarta,” Uwais said. “Like, you know, I practiced with my uncle. My uncle practiced with my grandfather, as well. You know, I grew up with family martial art. And, so, yeah, because, you know, in the ’90s, in the Jakarta streets, it was like real dangerous. So, I have to practice a lot, because I have to protect myself and my family. (The Indonesian martial art of) Silat was like a dance. So, we have a rhythm, as well. So, it’s not like a punch. It’s not like a kick, but we have like you know like a dance.”
Hollywood Stardom
Making the transition from Indonesian to Hollywood filmmaking was a challenge for Uwais, who was used to a more leisurely pace of filmmaking. Credit Wahlberg for getting Uwais in the Hollywood groove.
Noted Uwais, “He’s really fast, really professional and like you know like spontaneous from him it’s like it’s really good for me. Good experience.”
Thanks to positive early test screenings, a “Mile 22” sequel is already being discussed – and Uwais seems to be emerging as on the rise in Hollywood.
“Iko will be where he wants to be in a couple years,” Berg said.
“Mile 22” opens in North American cinemas Aug. 17.
