Michael Bisping, the UFC Hall of Famer and ex-middleweight champ, is swapping punches for a starring role in Atlas King, a gritty thriller set to film in Downtown Los Angeles this summer. Announced on April 7, 2025, this project teams him up with UFC featherweight Giga Chikadze, who’s stepping in as an associate producer. The movie’s headed to the Cannes Market later this year, where Storyman Pictures will put it up for sale, promising a raw story that’s got fight fans and film buffs talking.
Bisping, famous for knocking out Luke Rockhold in 2016 to claim the UFC title despite a bad eye, plays a worn-out ex-fighter. His character rolls back into town to bury a friend and settle old scores.
“I’m thrilled to collaborate with Nika and his team,” Bisping told Deadline. “The script grabbed me from the beginning.”
Directed by Nika Agiashvili, the film stars Bisping alongside George Finn, who plays his godson tangled with a crime crew, plotting a dangerous heist to escape a ruthless mob boss.
From Octagon to Movie Set
This isn’t Bisping’s first acting rodeo. He’s popped up in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, both Den of Thieves films, and the Twin Peaks revival, plus he’s got a part in Red Sonja coming later in 2025. But Atlas King marks his first lead role, perfect for a guy who fought his way to Britain’s first UFC championship. Finn, known for Time Lapse, joins him, while Chikadze brings his kickboxing flair to the production side. Agiashvili, John Edward Lee, and Finn are producing through Storyman Pictures, with Bisping also listed as a producer.
Filming in LA’s gritty core, Atlas King is set to deliver a street-smart punch. With Storyman Pictures taking it to the Cannes Market, buyers will get a shot at this thriller that blends Bisping’s real-life toughness with a tale of vengeance and survival. It’s a fresh chapter for the retired fighter, proving he’s still got plenty of fire off the mat.
