Dawn Images

The release of The Martial Artist, originally set for January 31 in Los Angeles, has been postponed due to wildfires in the city. The film will now debut in the spring.

The devastating fires burned 40,687 acres of LA and destroyed more than 15,000 structures, with over 100,000 people under evacuation orders. 28 fatalities were confirmed.

The movie is directed by Shaz Khan who served as the co-writer alongside Michael Ross Albert. Khan, known for his roles in Yaqeen Ka Safar and Parwaaz Hai Junoon, also stars in the movie alongside Faran Tahir, Sanam Saeed and Babar Peerzada.

Filmed in the United States, Pakistan and Central America, the film marks a milestone as the first international-level English film featuring four lead actors from Pakistan.

According to a statement from the movie’s team, unforeseen circumstances caused by the fires in LA necessitated the postponement of the film’s release. The team announced a revised timeline, with the film now expected to debut in LA in the spring of 2025.

The film’s Pakistan release has yet to be announced. The Martial Artist will be available in a dubbed Urdu version alongside its original English release.

Whilst producers are considering an Eid release due to overwhelming demand for a screening, the final date will be announced soon.

Khan received training from MMA champion Rafael Cordeiro in California to prepare for the film. In an Instagram post, he said he hoped to “humanise the fighters and the often misunderstood sport, which is a true combination of science and art.” He added that the fighters are “humble with an insatiable appetite to grow” and have “hearts as big as their will”.