Danny Trejo to Star in “The Protector”

Danny Trejois protected

The 75-year-old Mexican American actor will star opposite Billy Zane, Randy Couture and James Russo in the action film The Protector from filmmaker Justin Lee.

Danny Trejo

Ed Morroneleading the film as protagonist Mickey Rome, an aging protection specialist who’s ready to holster his guns and head for retirement. When the agency he works for demands one last job be done, Mickey obliges and is sent to Central America to watch a husband and wife who have stolen $8m from a ruthless crime family.

Doctor Drew PinskyJohnny Messnerand Eddie Finlayare also part of the cast.

“This movie is a fun throwback to films from the ’80s like Lethal WeaponMidnight Run and 48 Hours. It has action. It has comedy. It has dark moments. It was such a joy to get to work in a space I love so much with phenomenal talent,” said director Lee.

Trejo, best known for his title role as Machetein the Robert Rodriguez-helmed films, has previously appeared in AnacondaCon AirGrindhouseand Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Cinedigm Acquires North American Distribution Rights to Tito Ortiz’s “Silencer”

Tito Ortiz is being silenced…

Cinedigm has acquired North American distribution rights to Silencer, an action thriller starring the 43-year-old half-Mexican American retired mixed martial artist,Danny Trejo, Johnny Messner and Chuck Liddell.

Tito Ortiz 

A September 4 on-demand and video-on-demand release is planned.

Timothy Woodward Jr.’s film centers on a retired hitman (Messner) who must resurrect all of his deadly skills and fight a one-man war against his former employer who has kidnapped his stepdaughter.

Sean Mickpenned the script, which pits Messner’s and Ortiz’s characters against Trejo’s and Liddell’s characters.

“Status Media delivers another potent picture — Silencer is an explosive actioner with strong production values, high dramatic stakes and the added bonus of pitting legendary MMA rivals, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, against one another,” said Yolanda Macias, Cinedigm’s EVP Acquisitions. “Timothy and his team are excellent partners, and we are thrilled to be working with them on Silencer.”

Liddell beat Ortiz twice — in 2004 and 2006 — in two of the most high-profile fights inUFChistory.