Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA is expanding his presence in film with the launch of a new distribution label, 36 Cinema Distribution, beginning with the U.S. theatrical release of his latest feature, RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate. The revenge thriller will open in theaters on May 1, 2026, in partnership with Variance Films.
The film arrives with the support of longtime collaborator Quentin Tarantino, who is presenting the project. Their creative partnership dates back decades, with RZA composing the scores for Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2, while Tarantino produced RZA’s 2012 directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists.
One Spoon of Chocolate blends elements of martial arts cinema and classic exploitation films, a style that reflects RZA’s long-standing love of genre storytelling. The film stars Shameik Moore, Blair Underwood, RJ Cyler, Paris Jackson, Emyri Crutchfield, Michael Harney, and Harry Goodwins, with Johnell Young, Rockmond Dunbar, and Isaiah R. Hill also appearing.
The story follows Unique, a veteran and former convict attempting to start over in a quiet small town. His attempt at a fresh start quickly unravels after a confrontation with a group of locals leads him to suspect they may be tied to the disappearance of several young men in the area, including his cousin. As he searches for the truth, Unique becomes the target of both the gang and the local sheriff’s office, whose role in the disappearances may run deeper than expected. Rather than wait to become another victim, he and those closest to him decide to fight back.
RZA wrote, directed, and produced the film alongside Paul Hall and Talani R. Diggs, with executive producers including Mitchell Divine Diggs and Joe Genier. The filmmaker also composed the film’s score with Tyler Bates.
The project has been years in the making. According to RZA, the first draft of the screenplay began more than a decade ago before finally being completed in 2023.
“My new film, RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate, is my fourth feature film as a director,” RZA said. “It embodies my journey as a filmmaker, to date, mixing action, drama, thrills, and substance. The first draft started over thirteen years ago and wasn’t completed until 2023. After two years of filmmaking, we are ready to show this film to the audience.”
He added that the film was designed with theatrical viewing in mind.
“I believe this film is best suited for theaters because theaters capture our imagination while holding our attention. At its core, One Spoon of Chocolate is a story of a young man’s journey to better his life’s circumstances while everything around him is shaken. All of our journeys revolve around the choices we make and how we choose to live with them.”
Tarantino praised the film’s throwback energy and action-driven storytelling.
“As a filmmaker, RZA really brought home the bacon on an old-school, foot-to-ass, Revenge-a-matic! This picture drives audiences wild wherever it screens. We’ll sell you a whole seat, but you’ll only use the edge of it.”
The release will include select 35mm screenings, including a two-week run at Los Angeles’ Vista Theatre, a venue closely associated with Tarantino.
The film previously premiered at the Tribeca Festival last year.
Beyond the film’s release, RZA’s new label 36 Cinema Distribution signals a larger plan to bring both new titles and classic films to theaters through traditional and event-style screenings. The initiative builds on RZA’s earlier launch of 36 Cinema, a virtual screening platform he introduced in 2020 to showcase classic kung fu films with live commentary.
With One Spoon of Chocolate, RZA is not only returning to the director’s chair but also stepping further into the business side of film distribution, bringing his martial arts-inspired storytelling to theaters while laying the foundation for a new platform dedicated to genre cinema.