JAKARTA, March 14 — You’ve got ten minutes to sink yourself into the making of “The Raid 2,” sequel to Indonesia’s surprise break-out action film hit, ahead of a general release from March 28.

Again written and directed by Welshman Gareth Evans, it is filmed on location in Indonesia with a crew composed of local, Japanese and Hong Kong personnel.

The star of “The Raid,” Iko Uwais, returns as young SWAT team member Rama, this time seeking to infiltrate a criminal gang instead of a mere tower block -- hence his new identity as a convicted criminal looking for a new fraternity.

Donny Alamsyah is back too, as Rama’s estranged brother who has risen up the ranks of the Tama crime family.

And as Evans explains, Rama’s task is made all the more difficult by the fact that he now has powerful enemies within both the underworld syndicate and the police force’s upper echelons.

Also introduced to proceedings is Julie Estelle (a well-known actress and model of French, American and Chinese Indonesian descent) as deadly female fighter Hammer Girl, with other cast recruits hailing from across South East Asia.

“There’s a lot more drama this time,” says Evans, “but deep down, the action’s going to be a lot bigger. We’re expanding the scale of this, expanding the scope.”

Known alternatively as “The Raid 2: Berendal” and “The Raid: Retailiation,” Evans’ action film is due March 27 in Australia and New Zealand, March 28 in the USA, and then from April 11 in the UK and Canada; fans in France and the Netherlands wait on a July release.— AFP Relaxnews