Michael Jai White Cast in Martial Arts Film ‘Paper Made’, Production is Underway
EXCLUSIVE: Actor Michael Jai White, known for his roles in Spawn and The Dark Knight, has joined the cast of the martial arts feature film Paper Made, currently in production in Tampa, Florida.
White will appear alongside an impressive lineup that includes Myles Truitt from BMF, Taimak from The Last Dragon, Walter E. Jones of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Quartay DeNaya from Pizza Guys Vs Vampires, and wrestler Daria Rae Berenato. The film is directed and written by Ryan Watson, who collaborated with Jerron Horton on the script. The narrative is set in a fictional Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and follows Tavon Watkins (played by Truitt) as he navigates the challenges of joining a secret fraternity of Black martial artists after enduring a severe hazing incident.
Renowned as “a master of nearly a dozen martial arts disciplines,” White was the first non-Asian recipient of the Bruce Lee Award in 2025. In addition to acting, he will also serve as an executive producer on Paper Made.
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The film has further bolstered its cast with veteran actor and martial artist Marrese Crump, Jaden Lucas Miller from Beyond The Gates, and Zephaniah Terry of Ruthless. Additional members include wrestler Jamara Garrett, also known as Mara Sadé, stuntman and martial artist Sam Lee Herring from Back In Action, and martial artist Jair Muhammad.
Producers Shaun Greenspan from Amber Alert, Brian Yuran, and Daria Rae Berenato are leading the project. Casting was managed by Karlie Loland-Ringer, with Taimak and Walter E. Jones expected to join as executive producers alongside Miranda Motlow and Jonathan Blitt.
