The Martial Artist, a feature film, releasing on April 4, 2025. The film, the directorial debut of actor Shaz Khan, will serve audiences with a visually stunning and emotionally gripping plot that explores the journey of an MMA fighter’s self-discovery. For years, Hollywood has recycled the same old fight films—the Lone Warrior, the Underdog, the Comeback. But The Martial Artist isn’t just another fighter’s tale. It’s raw. It’s relentless. And it’s about to redefine a genre.
Blending the cultures of the East with the West with themes of ambition, redemption and personal discovery, it is poised to be a film that can challenge stereotypes. Director Shaz Khan reveals that the film has also been made with the aim to appeal to audiences across international borders.
Speaking on the same, Shaz Khan said, “This isn’t about throwing punches. It’s about breaking the mold. It’s about bringing something new to a genre that can speak to some of the plights of our times. The trailer watched over 1.6 million views and climbing—tells you everything. The grit. The sweat. The agony of a man standing at the edge of himself, searching for answers in a world that is obsessed with the external, never the one within.”
Last year, the film had a successful Private Screening attended by top VIPs, Media, MMA athletes and champions in Bahrain. It was also attended by the top personalities of the Bahrain film industry.
The Martial Artist has now finally got its release date. It will be released on April 4, 2025, as confirmed by director Shaz Khan. He further revealed the cast of the film—Faran Tahir (also producing), Sanam Saeed, Babar Peerzada, Thesa Loving and Gregory Sporledor. The film brings an authenticity that Hollywood rarely lets South Asians own. And authenticity matters. That’s why Khan trained for four years in boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling—no stunt double, no shortcuts. Just blood, discipline, and a story that had to be told.
Sources reveal that The Martial Artist will offer audiences more than just physical montages; it will also delve into spiritual and emotional transformations. Interestingly, the director says, The Martial Artist initially was conceptualised as a short film centred on a boxer; however, it evolved into a full-length feature film with the help of a writer friend.
Shaz Khan recently also spoke about how excited he is as a director for The Martial Artist, which will be released in April, while also highlighting how it can pave the way for more cross-cultural collaborations in Hollywood. Next one is titled A SERVANT RISES.
Shaz Khan’s directorial debut, The Martial Artist, gets a release date
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