‘Kung Fu Deadly’ Sets Fantastic Fest World Premiere With Steven He Leading Supernatural Action Comedy
‘Kung Fu Deadly’ Brings Supernatural Martial Arts Comedy to Fantastic Fest for World Premiere
Steven He is trading sketch comedy for supernatural martial arts when Kung Fu Deadly makes its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on Sept. 18.
The Ireland-Australia co-production marks He’s first leading role in a feature film, placing the social media comedy creator at the center of an action-comedy that combines martial arts, supernatural threats and a pair of exterminators considerably outmatched by their latest assignment.
Directed by Fergal Costello, Kung Fu Deadly will premiere Friday, Sept. 18 at 5:15 p.m. CDT at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin as part of Fantastic Fest 2026.
He stars alongside newcomer Michael Tient as two bumbling exterminators whose usual work involves pests and poison spray. Their routine takes a sharp turn when the pair encounter an ancient evil that requires considerably more than conventional extermination equipment.
The supporting cast includes Gemma Chua-Tran (Heartbreak High, Netflix’s Gundam), Jason Tobin (Warrior, the Fast & Furious franchise), Max Huang (Mortal Kombat 1 & 2, Hidden Strike) and Steve Wall (Dune: Part Two, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms).
The film also brings considerable action experience behind the camera. Lee Huang, whose stunt credits include Dune: Prophecy and Warrior Nun, serves as action director.
Costello previously directed the BAFTA-winning short Brain in Gear. Kung Fu Deadly was written by Paddy McDonald (Predestination), who produced alongside Nicholas Cooper (Zombie Plane).
“Directing Kung Fu Deadly with this cast and this crew and this script has been the highlight of my career,” Costello said ahead of the premiere, adding that he is eager for Fantastic Fest audiences to experience the film’s “high-kicking, high-adventure action.”
The production arrives in Austin as an official Ireland-Australia co-production under the Films Co-Production Agreement between the two countries. Financing comes from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland in association with Parc Entertainment Capital, Screen Queensland, Coimisiún na Meán and Chop Shop Post.
For Fantastic Fest, the combination feels right at home. A supernatural threat, martial arts action and two exterminators who find themselves responsible for dealing with something much worse than rats gives Kung Fu Deadly the kind of genre collision that can play particularly well with an Austin crowd.
It also gives He an opportunity to translate the comedic persona that built his online following into a feature-length leading performance while sharing the screen with performers already familiar to action and genre audiences.
Kung Fu Deadly makes its world premiere Friday, Sept. 18 at 5:15 p.m. CDT in Theater 4 at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar as part of Fantastic Fest 2026.
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