I bring good news for anyone feeling nostalgic about Keanu Reeves’s furious kung-fu fists, which were on full display in The Matrix trilogy alongside an arsenal of brilliant stylized camera techniques.  The first poster and images have been released for Reeves’s directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, a kung-fu film about a young martial artist’s experiences in Beijing.  Tiger Chen, who was a member of the stunt team for The Matrix, plays the film’s young protagonist, while Reeves plays the villain.  The film will also include cast members Karen Mok (So Close), Simon Yam (Ip Man 1 and 2) and Iko Uwais (The Raid).  Moreover, the venerated choreographer Yuen Woo Ping, known for his work in The Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, is onboard as the film’s action director.  Reeves previously stated that Man of Tai Chi will have 18 fights and roughly 40 minutes of fighting time.

Man of Tai Chi’s release date is still TBA.  Hit the jump in order to see the film’s first poster and images.

After Keanu Reeves enthusiastically professed that he knew kung-fu back in the days of The Matrix , the actor is finally getting back to the martial arts.  Reeves has already wrapped on 47 Ronin, a retelling of the legend of a band of samurai who set out to restore their master’s honor.  But Reeves is also working on his directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, a story revolving around a young martial artist’s experiences in Beijing.  The contemporary picture stars Tiger Chen (who worked on the stunt team in The Matrix) as the protagonist with Reeves himself as a villain.  Casting notes aside, Reeves commented on the revolutionary camera work he’s using with Man of Tai Chi to both provide a new perspective on the fight scenes while keeping the cast, crew and camera from suffering any damage.  Hit the jump to check out the proof-of-concept videos.

It was first announced in April that Keanu Reeves planned on making his directorial debut with the martial arts movie Man of Tai Chi.  Ever since, Reeves has been in talks with Village Roadshow Asia and China Film Group to make it happen.  Reeves has finally made the deal, teaming with Universal and Wanda Media in addition to Village Roadshow and China Film Group to make and distribute Man of Tai Chi.  Tiger Chen, who was part of the Matrix stunt team, stars as “as a young martial artist whose fighting skills brings him to a realm of vast opportunities, and painful choices.”  Reeves will also co-star as the villain.

Man of Tai Chi is scheduled to start shooting in February in China.  Reeves will shoot in both Mandarin and English for the film, set in contemporary Beijing.  Hit the jump for quotes from Reeves on his approach to the task at hand.