Jean-Claude Van Damme’s first appearance in the movies wasn’t exactly a starring one: he showed up as a background extra in a scene from Woman Between Dog and Wolf, a 1979 Franco-Belgian film. However, when he moved to the United States to pursue a film career he didn’t imagine it would pay off as much as it did: in 1988 Bloodsport gave him international fame, and the 90s were his playground, turning him into the quintessential “tough guy”… until everything changed.
Damme another kick, Jean-Claude
Although after his heyday he ended up making some very interesting films, like JCVD or Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, the truth is that most of the films he was shooting went straight to video and had rather limited success. But now, he’s just gone back to his roots at 66, shooting a martial arts film the old-fashioned way: Katana.
In Katana, Van Damme will be a former world champion who is now a father, leaving his dark past behind… but who’ll have to fight again when he learns that his daughter has been kidnapped by none other than the yakuza. Alongside him there’ll be several MMA fighters and, with a relatively small budget, it could be a sleeper hit.
Katana director Jeremy Zag has said that “Van Damme made me want to go to a dojo. After 30 years practicing karate at an elite level, directing him in Katana is a dream come true. I want to bring together the power of Bloodsport, the urgency of Taken and the energy of John Wick in a deeply human story”. No pressure, then, eh?
