Mario Casas Directs and Stars in New Fight Film "Unguarded"

Mario Casas is directing a second feature, and he will also star in it. The film is called Unguarded, or A puño descubierto in Spanish, and Variety reports that Óscar Casas shares the top billing.

Both actors play underground fighters who take part in bare-knuckle MMA bouts. MMA, or mixed martial arts, is a combat sport that combines boxing, wrestling and other styles. Bare-knuckle means the fighters compete without gloves.

The film is produced by Nostromo Pictures in association with Movistar Plus+, the Spanish television and streaming service. HBO Max, the streaming platform, is also taking part in the project.

Film Factory Entertainment will take Unguarded to the American Film Market, a trade event where sales companies show films to buyers from around the world. Those buyers decide which films will reach cinemas and streaming services in their own countries, often long before a movie is finished. Film Factory will also handle international sales, which means selling the rights to show the film outside Spain.

Inside Spain, Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film in cinemas in 2027. The studio has not yet given a specific month.

Mario Casas has spent years moving between acting and behind-the-camera work in Spanish cinema. Adding a second directing credit alongside a lead role keeps him in both jobs for this project. For fans of the cast, the next step is the first look at the finished film, which will not arrive until the 2027 release.