Never Back Down is a 2008 action film starring Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, and Djimon Hounsou. A 2011 sequel entitled Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown was released with Evan Peters reprising his role as Max Cooperman. Directed by Michael Jai White - who makes his directorial debut and also top-bills the cast, the film stars Alex Meraz, Jillian Murray, MMA fighter Scott Epstein and Australian actor-singer Dean Geyer.