Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme nailed two film deals this week, one of which includes Darkness Of Man from Hot Seat and fortress helmer James Cullen. The two spoke to THR this week in an interview wherein author Alex Ritman asked about the status of Jeremy Zag’s What’s My Name?, the film which was set to be the 62-year-old action star’s final bow as of its announcement back in February out of EFM.
“I want to make one more big martial arts film. But I guess it’s not the time right now. Before I believed in destiny, but now I believe in synchronicity. So if something doesn’t go my way, then it’s not supposed to go my way. So What’s My Name? may happen, may not happen. And I have another project that’s as good. But that’s for later. Right now, I’m so into Darkness of Man, which was always working in parallel” said Van Damme.
The storyline thusfar for What’s My Name? will see Van Damme star as himself, as he is left in a coma following a serious car accident and awoken up with amnesia, unrecognizable to everyone, including himself. As the rest of the logline reads “Through a series of fights against iconic fighters from across his legendary career, Van Damme begins a quest for his own identity and life meaning. This leads him to one final match.”
With What’s My Name? on the back burner for the time being, Van Damme will have plenty of creative space and time to share with Bressack as cameras ready to roll early next year. Darkness Of Man is set in L.A. and according to THR‘s report a day earlier, will see Van Damme in the role of “Russell Hatch, an Interpol operative who takes on the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong. Years later, Hatch finds himself protecting Jayden and his uncle from a group of merciless gangs in an all-out turf war, stopping at nothing to protect Jayden and fight anyone getting in his way — including supposed allies with hidden agendas and nefarious intents.”
The film, whose VMI Worldwide is handling international sales at the American Film Market, is written by Bressack and co-scribe Alethea Cho from a story by Van Damme. Bressack, who is also producing the pic next to Jarret Furst, worked with Van Damme for two years to develop the project.
“My character has been drinking, he’s got a problem … he’s lost somebody. He’s in a very dark place. My character is going to be more honest than me in real life.” said Van Damme in his interview on Wednesday with THR.
“You’re going to see J.C. take real damage in this movie, and you’re going to see a side of J.C. that I don’t think we’ve seen before. It’s a very less polished version of him.” added Bressack.
Van Damme is also on deck for Silent Kill via Deadline‘s Andreas Wiseman. The film is being repped by Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment, and comes from writer and director Anthony Hickox. Joined by NFL star-turned-actor Vernon Davis and actors Rafael Amaya and Madalina Anea, Silent Kill will “follow four mercenaries who find a hidden treasure in the Congo. They bury it and agree to meet back at the same spot in three years and split the fortune evenly, but things take a different turn.”