JARVAN (2025)
Genre: Action | Martial Arts | Revenge Thriller
Director: Jesse V. Johnson
Writer: Chad Law
Production Companies: Millennium Media, Bleeding Edge Pictures
Release Date: Fall 2025 (TBA)
Runtime: 1h 58min (approx.)
Rating: R (for strong violence, language, and thematic elements)
Premise
Jarvan is not just another martial arts actioner — it’s a brutal, emotionally charged tale of vengeance, betrayal, and redemption set in the war-torn underworld of Eastern Europe. Scott Adkins stars as Jarvan Rike, a former black-ops agent turned underground pit fighter, whose past catches up with him when his brother — the only family he has left — is executed by a rogue international death squad.
Betrayed by his own handlers and presumed dead, Jarvan vanishes for years into the Eastern bloc’s criminal underbelly. But when a mysterious figure leaks information about the man behind his brother’s death — a war profiteer named Gregor Volkov — Jarvan returns with only one goal: take them all down, one broken bone at a time.
Scott Adkins in Peak Form
Known for his performances in Undisputed, Ninja, and Accident Man, Scott Adkins delivers one of the most intense performances of his career. As Jarvan, he portrays a broken man whose every move is a calculated step toward vengeance. His fight choreography, created in collaboration with longtime stunt coordinator Tim Man, is gritty, grounded, and violently efficient — abandoning flash for impact.
Jarvan is a modern-day Ronin — a soldier with no country, no home, and nothing left to lose. But he still has his code.
Supporting Cast
Maria Bakalova as Nina Volkov, the conflicted daughter of the antagonist, caught between loyalty and justice.
Marko Zaror as Milos, Volkov’s top enforcer and Jarvan’s physical equal — their eventual face-off is one of the year’s most anticipated fight scenes.
Liam Cunningham as Colonel Orlov, the retired military strategist who once trained Jarvan and now helps him navigate a geopolitical maze.
Rhona Mitra as Agent Selene Hawke, an Interpol operative who reluctantly aids Jarvan, despite knowing his methods break every law she upholds.
Themes and Tone
Jarvan (2025) is R-rated with a purpose. The film embraces the rawness of human survival — not just through its bone-crunching action but through its emotional core. Themes include:
Revenge vs Justice: Can Jarvan ever find peace, or is he too far gone?
Trauma and Brotherhood: Flashbacks reveal Jarvan’s bond with his brother, making each act of violence personal.
Moral Shades of War: The film explores the ethics of black-ops, drone strikes, and military-industrial corruption.
Action Sequences
Subway Gauntlet in Bucharest – A claustrophobic fight through a moving train with improvised weapons and close-quarters combat.
The Abandoned Church Showdown – Jarvan takes on five mercenaries in a gothic ruin lit only by moonlight.
Final Duel with Milos – Shot in a freezing warehouse with minimal cuts, this 1-on-1 knife-and-hand duel is already being called a “masterclass in action direction.”
Silent Takedown in the Baltic Forest – A nod to old-school espionage thrillers, Jarvan hunts a convoy in the dark, using sound, silence, and fear.
Visual Style & Direction
Director Jesse V. Johnson reunites with Adkins to craft a film that’s both brutal and beautiful. Visually inspired by The Raid, Man on Fire, and John Wick, the cinematography captures bleak urban decay, broken souls, and vicious showdowns in slow-motion and long takes. The color palette is muted — steel blues, ash greys, and cold whites — reflecting Jarvan’s emotional numbness.
Sound design is minimalist — letting the sound of fists, broken bones, and silence speak louder than words.
Speculations and Franchise Potential
There are already rumors that Jarvan is the first in a planned trilogy, with the potential to expand into an international anti-hero series. With streaming platforms hungry for gritty, grounded action IPs, Adkins may finally get the franchise he deserves.
Producers have hinted at a possible spin-off featuring Nina Volkov, and the post-credit scene hints that Jarvan may not have escaped his past as cleanly as he believes…
Why It Matters
Jarvan is a reminder that not all action movies need capes, explosions, or CGI armies. Sometimes, it’s about a single man, a set of knuckles, and an unbreakable will. With tightly choreographed violence, emotional stakes, and a performance from Adkins that feels career-defining, Jarvan (2025) might become the sleeper martial arts hit of the decade.
“I don’t want justice. I want the truth… and their bones beneath my feet.” – Jarvan
