Rza Recruits Russell Crowe for ‘The Man With the Iron Fist’

Rza will be sharing screen time with Russell Crowe yet again, according to E! Online. The mastermind behind the Wu-Tang Clan has locked down the actor to star in his first feature film as a director, The Man With the Iron Fist.

Rza, who first worked with Crowe in 2007’s American Gangster, will also star in the martial arts flick as a blacksmith who makes weapons in feudal China. The details on Crowe’s character are unclear, but according to Rza, he’s not someone you’d want to exchange blows with. "I won't spoil it for you, but Russell's gonna be the baddest man alive," The Shaolin rapper/producer told E! "That man is in fighting shape. That man will knock you out."

The movie, which is set to begin filming in Shanghai in December, is being co-produced and co-written by Hostel’s Eli Roth.

In the meantime, Crowe and Rza will be appearing together in Paul Haggis’ The Next Three Days, set to hit theaters on November 19. —Elan Mancini