There’s plenty to love about writer/director Orson Oblowitz’s new comedic action thriller Showdown at the Grand. For starters, it stars Terrence Howard (Crash, Empire) and Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, Expend4bles), but the way in which Oblowitz balances comedic and absurd moments with dramatic scenes will not go unnoticed. This is one of those genre films that offers the best of several mediums. Helmed by Howard and Lundgren, who turn in memorable performances, it’s bound to generate some buzz and find an audience.

Relish the premise, which ultimately becomes an affectionate homage to vintage B movies: Proud movie theater owner George Fuller (Howard) suddenly must defend his family business — a lush historic movie theater — from corporate developers. In a groovy twist of fate, legendary action star Claude Luc Hallyday (Lundgren) suddenly is the man who can save the day. It’s the best kind of art imitating life in this noteworthy showdown. Terrence Howard shared more about the production in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

Keeping Up with Dolph Lundgren
Showdown at the Grand Release Date November 10, 2023 Cast Terrence Howard, Amanda Righetti, John Savage, Dolph Lundgren Runtime 92 min Main Genre Action Genres Action, Comedy
Showdown at the Grand also stars Piper Kurda, Amanda Righetti, and John Savage. The story takes off after George discovers a corporate developer has sent a couple of thugs to scare him just enough to sell his historic theater. George won’t have any of that. The theater is a local treasure, featuring vintage films. Who can resist a film fest with legendary action star Claude Luc Hallyday, after all? Some of Hallyday’s film clips featured here are a hoot, in fact. Moses Vs the Nazis, anyone? How about Necropolis, Iraqnophobia, Cyber Cartel, Blood Is for the Living, or Death In the West? Kitschy fun, and Dolph Lundgren shows a side of himself fans haven’t seen much of.

Related: Dolph Lundgren’s Best Movies, Ranked

George decides to fight for his theater, finding reassurance in new usher Spike (played by Kurda). “I think audiences will be surprised at Dolph Lundgren’s ability to poke fun at himself,” Terrence Howard shared. “That means a lot because that’s like having Arnold Schwarzenegger come in and do an impersonation of his entire career. That’s what Dolph did. He took all the hard work he’s done [in films] and put it into this character.” Howard added:

I didn’t expect him to be such an accomplished actor. I didn’t think he would play his character so seriously. It meant everything and I think it made the movie. What surprised me more than anything in the world was how good Dolph was and the choices that he made as a thespian.

Tossing back long locks goes a long way for Lundgren’s character here, adding to the charm of the film. But Howard fuels George with determination and spirit, which audiences no doubt will appreciate.

“He had no toleration for rivalry,” Howard says of the character. “He reminded me of a character in the Bible, Jehu. He was riding through [town] with his chariot and he saw another young man and he said, ‘Is your heart upright with mine and having no toleration for rivalry against the true God?’ And he said, ‘If it is, then climb up on my chariot as we go and destroy all the bell worshipers.’ That’s who George Fuller was. He was Jehu. He had a heart for what is right. So it was that sense of, ‘I’ve been called to this position,’ that made me really love George. He did what he had to do, knowing that he wouldn’t personally win from it, but that the principle of what he did, did stand. You know, we need that today.”

Connecting with the Cast & New Endeavors
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In real-life, the Warner Grand Theatre is a historic movie palace that opened in 1931. Located in San Pedro, Los Angeles, it becomes one of the main characters here, something worth saving. Howard, an accomplished singer, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Hustle & Flow. He went on to impress in other films, such as Crash and in the television hit Empire. But he ran into some challenges here in Showdown at the Grand, though they were all worth it:

“Because of the low budget, we had to create the special effects ourselves with the magic of cinema and the magic of actors,” he said. “We didn’t know how people were going to respond to the film. And the response has been overwhelming. They resonated with the truth of the characters.”

Related: Showdown at the Grand Review | Mildly Entertaining, But Very Loving Homage to the Past

He said he wanted to bond with Dolph Lundgren during the shoot, but Lundgren was so committed he really wouldn’t be out of character.

“I was trying to ‘reach’ him because there was a distance there. He’s like George Washington, talking to you, but there’s still this God-like being in him. You just don’t expect someone to have that consistent radiance. I stayed there trying [to reach him] and thought, ‘Did I really get to deal with him, or did I deal with this character? Was he this person outside of it?’ But that was the toughest thing. I didn’t know who I was dealing with. And that was just him being a thespian. That’s just him being a professional. He literally was locked into Claude Luc Hallyday and would not come out of it.”

Howard went on to say he hopes audiences appreciate the nuances of Showdown at the Grand. As for future projects, he’s excited about Holly, an enterprising entertainment tech platform designed to connect creative talent to resources, capital, and networking opportunities. Launched in early 2023 with his wife, Mira, Howard says, “it’s a movement more than just an app or a platform. Ultimately, it’s designed to create connections between talents.”

Catch Showdown at the Grand in theaters, and on all major digital platforms Nov. 10. You can check out the trailer below:.