MMA Drama Embattled, About a Father-Son Face-Off, Lands at IFC

IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Embattled, an MMA drama about a father and son competing in the ring to settle a bitter family feud.

David McKenna wrote the screenplay for the film, in which Stephen Dorff (Blade, I Shot Andy Warhol, True Detective) plays a man who turns his aggression into a successful career in MMA cage-fighting. But when his second son is born with a developmental disorder, he abandons his family. McKenna’s 15-year-old son Colin, who was born with Williams Syndrome, portrays the boy.

Cash’s older son Jett, played by Darren Mann (Giant Little Ones, Wayward Pines) follows his father into the ring — and eventually faces him, IFC says, “in a battle that neither can truly win.”

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“Director Nick Sarkisov and writer David McKenna have made an ambitious and tender film about the pain that can be passed across generations. Embattled is a potent piece of work, fueled by powerful performances from Stephen Dorff and Darren Mann, and just the type of rich and textured filmmaking that we support,” said Arianna Bocco, executive vice president of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films.

“Embattled was truly a labor of love for us, and IFC Films is the perfect partner to take it to audiences nationwide,” said Sarkisov. “This is an authentic, moving story about family and the complicated relationship that can exist between fathers and sons. It struck a chord with me, and is sure to do the same with everyone who sees our film.”

The cast also features Karrueche Tran (Claws), Elizabeth Reaser (The Haunting of Hill House), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Drew Starkey (Outer Banks), Ava Capri (Blast Beat), Saïd Taghmaoui (Wonder Woman), and real-life UFC fighters Tyron Woodley, Cowboy Cerrone, and Eryk Anders, as well as former UFC fighter Kenny Florian. MMA scenes were choreographed by actor-stuntman Fernando Chien (Fast Five, The Last Ship).

Embattled was produced by Eryl Cochran, Scott LaStaiti and Sergey Sarkisov and executive produced by Sarkisov, Dorff, Frank Ragen, Colleen Camp, and Rhys Coiro.

Embattled is scheduled to be released by IFC Films in November.