Exclusive ‘Assassin’ Trailer Teases a 1930s Shanghai Take on ‘John Wick’
‘Relentless and Nonstop’: Exclusive ‘Assassin’ Trailer Teases a 1930s Shanghai Take on ‘John Wick’
LOS ANGELES — Move over, Baba Yaga. Omnibus Entertainment has officially pulled back the curtain on its latest high-octane project, debuting an exclusive trailer for Assassin that has action aficionados drawing immediate comparisons to the gold standard of the genre, John Wick.
The 90-minute thriller, directed by Zhou Jiuquin, is being billed as a "nonstop" barrage of elite fight choreography and close-quarters combat. While many modern action films attempt to replicate the "Wick-style" kinetic energy, the first footage from Assassin suggests a brutal, period-accurate authenticity that leans into the visceral stunt work of films like The Raid and Ong Bak.
The Shadows of 1930s Shanghai
Set against the backdrop of a 1930s Shanghai on the brink of occupation, the film follows Mubai (Jinhao Guo), an elite fighter recruited for a high-stakes, top-secret hit. The trailer wastes no time establishing the stakes, as Mubai is forced to fight his way through the Japanese military machine across train lines, enemy strongholds, and claustrophobic city streets.
The official synopsis paints a picture of survival at any cost:
“Hunted through city streets and enemy strongholds, Mubai fights his way through ambushes, explosions, and brutal close-quarters combat to reach a single target who could change history.”
A “John Wick” Blueprint in the East
The influence of the Chad Stahelski/David Leitch school of "Gun-fu" is evident in every frame of the trailer. The footage highlights:
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Long Takes: Extended, unbroken shots of hand-to-hand combat that showcase the actors' physical prowess.
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Environmental Lethality: Much like John Wick with a pencil, Mubai is seen turning his immediate surroundings—including 1930s artifacts and train infrastructure—into lethal weapons.
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Stunt Pedigree: The film’s action is led by a veteran stunt team including action choreographer Zhengguang Lu and action director Guan Su, who have reportedly prioritized practical effects over CGI-heavy sequences.
Cast and Production
Joining Jinhao Guo in the fray are Ray Lui, Di Wang, and Ming Wang. The screenplay, penned by Lin Huang, aims to balance the "relentless" action with the ticking-clock tension of a world about to descend into total war.
The film is produced by Xuanyi Wang and represents a growing trend of international action cinema targeting the "Prestige Action" market popularized by Lionsgate’s John Wick franchise.
How to Watch
Action fans won’t have to wait long to see if Mubai can match the body count of his modern-day counterparts. Assassin is slated for a digital release on 17th April 2026, where it will be available to rent or own on all major platforms.
With a runtime of just 90 minutes, the film promises a lean, mean experience that cuts the fat and focuses entirely on what the trailer promises: "relentless, nonstop fighting."
