Y'know, because one film combining Thai martial arts and an American past time created by a Canadian just isn't enough. Writer/director Thanakorn Pongsuwan is currently making the prequel to the original Fireball film. Calling it Fireball Begins [heh? HEH?] the synopsis for the film is as follows...
During the Vietnam War, American soldiers stationed in Thailand learnt Muay Thai fighting. The soldiers began to challenge the local gyms and with the advantages of their size, they defeated them one after another. News of the defeats reached a village that had inherited one of the oldest styles of Muay Thai who defeated the foreigners. The soldiers challenged the villagers to a new game that combined basketball to guarantee them the competitive edge. Thai fighters had to learn the art of basketball to win the challenge of the first Fireball game and restore Thai honor.
Really, who doesn't want to kick some American ass at their own game and restore order to their country and culture. Argentina and the former USSR did it, why can't the Thais?
Fireball was an utterly crap movie that made Rollerball look like Hoosiers.
I was curious about the original if not completely enthused - and indeed, I've still not seen it - but I love the idea of such an inherently goofy film getting an epic mythological backstory involving the Vietnam War and Thai national honor. This is just silly enough to be potentially great.