Oscar Winner Set to Lead Innovative Action Franchise
Fresh off her historic Academy Award win for Everything Everywhere All At Once, Michelle Yeoh is preparing to trade her multiverse-hopping shoes for surgical scrubs in The Surgeon, an ambitious new action thriller being shopped to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival. The film marks an exciting collaboration between John Wick producers Basil Iwanyk and Patrick Wachsberger, with The Resident creator Roshan Sethi making his feature directorial debut.
A Surgeon With a Scalpel-Sharp Edge
The high-concept thriller will see Yeoh play a retired surgeon who finds herself abducted and forced to operate on a mysterious patient. What her captors don’t anticipate is that her 35 years of medical expertise make her the most dangerous person in the room. The official synopsis promises an “explosive and brutal confrontation” as Yeoh’s character turns surgical precision into lethal weaponry, dispatching enemies in “a visual style that defies anything you’ve seen before.”
Sethi, a practicing physician turned filmmaker, brings authentic medical knowledge to the project. “I’m so excited to bring something brand new and innovative to the action genre based heavily on my medical background,” said the writer-director. “I cannot think of a better partner than Michelle, the iconic queen of action who will be using her skills in a different and surprising way in this film.”
A Powerhouse Creative Team
The project reunites key players behind the John Wick franchise, with Iwanyk producing through his Thunder Road Films banner and Wachsberger’s 193 Productions handling sales. The producing team also includes John Wick veterans Erica Lee (Thunder Road) and Russell Ackerman & John Schoenfelder (NeoText), along with Lit Entertainment Group’s Adam Kolbrenner.
“This is exactly the type of bold, original filmmaking we want to champion at 193,” said Wachsberger. “Michelle is a cinematic force and a perfect match for this role. She blends grace and power, bringing emotional depth to even the most physical sequences.”
Iwanyk added: “Roshin wrote an incredibly complex and compelling character that was able to excite one of the world’s great actresses in Michelle Yeoh. I can’t wait to see what that collaboration cooks up.”
Yeoh’s Action Renaissance
At 61, Yeoh is experiencing a remarkable career resurgence following her Oscar win. The Malaysian actress has long been revered for her action credentials, from Police Story 3: Supercop (1992) to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). The Surgeon will allow her to showcase both her physical prowess and dramatic range in what producers hope will launch a new franchise.
Yeoh’s upcoming slate remains packed, including Wicked: Part Two, James Cameron’s Avatar sequels, and the Star Trek spinoff Section 31. Her involvement in The Surgeon signals her commitment to challenging action roles that transcend typical genre conventions.
Sethi’s Unique Perspective
A radiation oncologist before transitioning to filmmaking, Sethi brings rare authenticity to medical storytelling. His directorial debut 7 Days won the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay. He cut his teeth writing for the CBS medical drama Code Black before co-creating Fox’s The Resident, which ran for six seasons.
“This isn’t just another action movie with a medical backdrop,” Sethi explained. “We’re using real surgical techniques and anatomical knowledge to create fight sequences you’ve literally never seen before. When a trained surgeon fights, they don’t throw punches – they exploit pressure points, nerve clusters, and physiological weaknesses.”
The New Frontier of Action Cinema
With its promise of “anatomically accurate” action sequences, The Surgeon aims to push the boundaries of fight choreography much like John Wick revolutionized gun-fu. Early concept art shown to buyers depicts Yeoh’s character using surgical tools as weapons and manipulating the human body’s vulnerabilities with terrifying precision.
The film’s producers are positioning it as a potential franchise starter in the vein of John Wick or Atomic Blonde, with plans for sequels that could explore different medical specialties. “Every area of medicine has its own unique combat applications,” Sethi teased. “Orthopedic surgeons, trauma specialists, neurologists – they all have skills that translate remarkably well to screen action.”
Market Prospects and Industry Impact
193 Productions is launching sales in Cannes with expectations of strong interest from global distributors. The combination of Yeoh’s star power, the John Wick pedigree, and the fresh premise has already generated significant buzz. With an estimated budget of $60-80 million, the film represents a mid-range action play at a time when studios are increasingly focused on either tentpoles or microbudget fare.
Industry analysts note the project’s timing is ideal, capitalizing on Yeoh’s elevated profile while filling a gap for sophisticated adult-oriented action films. “This isn’t superhero spectacle or geriatric IP,” noted one veteran sales agent. “It’s exactly the kind of original, star-driven concept the international market has been craving.”
Production Timeline and Release Strategy
Pending casting and financing, principal photography is expected to begin early 2025 for a potential late 2026 release. Producers are targeting a prestige action slot similar to John Wick‘s original October launch, with plans for a robust festival campaign before wide release.
The film’s backers are particularly excited about its global appeal. “Michelle is beloved across Asia, Europe, and North America,” said Wachsberger. “Combine that with action that plays universally and you have something truly special.”
As the Cannes market heats up, The Surgeon is already emerging as one of the most talked-about packages, proving that even in an era of franchises and IP, original star vehicles with bold vision can still command attention. With Yeoh at the scalpel’s edge and a world-class creative team behind her, this operation looks set to be a spectacular success.