Marko Zaror, internationally acclaimed martial artist, actor, and filmmaker, is back with his latest action-packed thriller, Affinity. Known for bringing a unique blend of precision, intensity, and storytelling to his fight scenes, Zaror not only stars in the film but also contributed to its story and creative vision.
Affinity explores the intersection of cutting-edge science and human connection, showcasing Zaror’s signature blend of heart-pounding action and emotional depth. It also marks his debut as the lead in an English-language film. I recently had the opportunity to discuss the movie with him while sneaking in a question about the possibility of a follow-up to his philosophical martial arts masterpiece, The Fist of the Condor.
HGL: I want to start by congratulating you on Affinity. It’s such a great movie, and actually, you star in two of my top three favorite action movies of this year. This has been such a big year for you.
Marco Zaror: What can I say? I’m so thankful and happy. It’s all about making this stuff, you know? And when you see people enjoy what you do and appreciate it, that’s the reward. It’s about creating cool moments for everybody and continuing to get better. I’m just really happy. I’m curious, what are the three movies?
HGL: In addition to Affinity, there’s Diablo, which you star in with Scott [Adkins], and Prisoner of War.
Marco Zaror: Oh, nice. That’s great, man. Louis Mandylor and Scott. It’s funny—in Diablo, we were working together, and then one of his movies and one of my movies. That’s cool. Scott has been a great friend; we’ve been building this friendship for years. We always cheer for each other and want the best for each other. Working together is always fun.
HGL: You always bring out the best in each other.
Marco Zaror: Yeah, always. Diablo was a good one.
HGL: With Affinity, you’re not only the star, but you also helped craft the story. What was it about this story that resonated with you, especially given that it was your first leading English-language role?
Marco Zaror: This movie was a long-time passion project. It’s about how science and technology are making us play God—AI, cloning, creating humans and organs. It raises the question: can we replicate the affinity between two human beings; the connection developed through actions and conversations? I wanted to explore this through an action movie while doing what I love. The big treasure as humans—the bond between people—is something technology cannot replicate. That was my motivation.
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HGL: Writing and performing are two very different processes. How did wearing all these hats influence your approach?
Marco Zaror: Starting this project a long time ago helped because it gave me time to think shot by shot, scene by scene. I learned a lot from Ernesto [Diaz Espinoza], watching movies together, sharing influences. When I got to act, I had a clear idea of the feeling I wanted the audience to receive. The director, Brandon Slagle, understood the project and supported my acting so I could focus on my character while also being involved in prep, casting, and locations.
HGL: One thing I’ve always appreciated about your films is that your fights aren’t just fights—they tell a story. How did you approach making the fights in Affinity an extension of the character?
Marco Zaror: You have to stay honest to the character and the story. In this case, the story is told through Bruno’s eyes. The audience is with him the whole movie. Following his motivations helps me create the choreography. Each fight has a different purpose—an alley fight, a restaurant fight, the big abduction—so the action evolves with the story. If you stay honest to the story, the fight becomes a continuation of it rather than just a set of moves.
HGL: One of my favorite action scenes is the showdown between you and Brahim Chab. Can you talk about working with him and putting that together?
Marco Zaror: He’s an amazing martial artist. We rehearsed together in the gym, aiming for realism rather than choreographed moves. I used a Steadicam to follow the action dynamically, showing the fight as two guys battling rather than just camera angles and edits. It was challenging but very rewarding, and having a skilled Steadicam operator made it possible.
HGL: Can you talk a bit about working with the rest of the cast, like Louis Mandylor?
Marco Zaror: He’s amazing—a genuinely nice and generous person. You can feel his commitment to the role, and it’s powerful to receive that energy. I learned a lot from him, and we connected immediately as humans and martial artists. Working with him on set created some really cool moments, and I’d love to collaborate with him again.
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HGL: Looking ahead, how do you see this film shaping the stories you want to tell in the future? Any plans to expand the Fist of the Condor universe?
Marco Zaror: I would love to expand The Fist of the Condor. It’s a unique, artistic project that’s challenging financially, but it’s one of my favorite movies. I can’t wait to finish the story and continue it. We need to convince WellGo that we need to do part two, and I hope we can make it happen soon.
HGL: I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. It’s a great movie, keep kicking ass.
Marco Zaror: Thank you, man. Thanks for the support. It’s all about that. Let’s make Affinity big and get people to watch it.
HGL: Absolutely. Thanks again.
Marco Zaror: Thank you, man. Take care.
Affinity will be released on Tuesday, September 30, via WellGo USA.
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