JOHOR BAHRU, April 25 -- Established martial artist and actor Shi Yanneng has long made his mark in the Chinese film industry with his grounded, action-driven performances.

The Malaysian feature Hunter Eleven: The Awaken, directed by Frank See (Air Force: The Movie - Selagi Bernyawa, Legasi: Bomba The Movie), brings together a production team from Hong Kong and China alongside an international, star-studded cast.

The action-packed conspiracy thriller is set to target audiences nationwide, with Shi taking the lead as SADD, opposite Malaysia's Sky Iskandar as NOAH.

While Shi is a familiar name among followers of Chinese entertainment, he may be less known to wider audiences.

Here's a closer look at his journey - and what drew him to thi...