Robert Rodriguez: Marko Zaror is Hollywood’s Next Big Action Star

Machete 2: Machete Kills has just finished wrapping shooting, and already the promo posters are pumping out for what’s sure to be another grind-house, campy thrill-ride from one of Hollywood’s most cutting edge filmmakers, Robert Rodriguez. We already know that Mel Gibson is playing the antagonist this go-round, but what we just found out is who his main henchman is: Chilean action star Marko Zaror.

Marko first made waves in the US a few years back for his action-er, Mandrill, that showed off his wire-less, matrix-like maneuvers that recalled memories of Tony Jaa (before Jaa went crazy). The stuntman, fight choreographer, and now actor, is being set up in his most high profile acting role to date, and if this poster and sizzle reel, recently making its rounds, means anything, it’s that Hollywood is courting the South American star.

Machete Kills is scheduled to be released next year. We’ll get our first major Hollywood dosage of Marko Zaror’s skills, and maybe our first glimpse at the next Jackie Chan/Tony Jaa/Bruce Lee (all names used to describe the martial artist previously).

In an interview with Film School Rejects, Rodriguez said the following:

“I’ve been a big fan of Marko’s for years, and I even created this role specifically for him. He is an incredible martial artist with physics defying speed and agility, and he has a great movie star presence. I’m sure we’ll be working together again soon.”

Check the sizzle-reel below of some of Zaror’s work. Is he Hollywood’s next big action star?