Japanese action star Tak Sakaguchi has been cast as the nemesis of Iko Uwais in the upcoming martial-arts film "Pendekar: Warrior," marking his first major role outside Japan. The casting unites two performers from different fighting disciplines who have never previously appeared on screen together, with filming due to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Sakaguchi is best known for cult films such as "Versus" and "Re:Born," and for a 77-minute single-take fight sequence against roughly 400 opponents in "Crazy Samurai Musashi." Uwais, celebrated for "The Raid" films, "Headshot" and "Mile 22," will star as a former silat master drawn back into violence after leaving prison, in a story set in Jakarta that aims to showcase Indonesian silat internationally. The film is produced by Asia Media Alliance Group with Nation Pictures, Yeti Entertainment and Red Packet Media, with Uwais serving as executive producer through his own company.