A new series is now in development from Todd Garner (producer on last year’s Mortal Kombat) and Dimitri Logothetis with Operation: Kickboxer, according to Matt Grobar’s Deadline exclusive on Thursday. The two will join to exec produce the series with Gary Scott Thompson (Universal’s Fast Saga) serving as showrunner, and Gary Marenzi’s Marenzi & Associates overseeing global co-production and distribution duties, according to the report.
The new series is described as “a martial arts-driven espionage series which finds the youngest Sloane brother, Michael, thrust into the world of international geopolitical intrigue. In order to earn his freedom, Sloane must go undercover as an MMA contender, using his clout to gain access to targets around the world, while remaining in contention for the champion title belt.”
Jean-Claude Van Damme headlined the original 1989 film in the role of Kurt Sloane, an Belgian-American forced to test his mettle in the Thai arena against a vicious underworld Muay Thai champion. Sasha Mitchell took the reigns as Sloane’s brother, David for three DTV sequels, with Mark Dacascos following suit in a fifth installment as David’s friend, Matt.
Canadian actor and martial artist Alain Moussi was the fourth and latest leading man to carry the franchise in the 2015 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, and its sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. Both were directed by John Stockwell and then by Dimitri Logothetis and heavily featured prominent name talents like late martial arts star Darren Shahlavi, Dave Bautista, Gina Carano, Georges St. Pierre, and even Van Damme himself, along with actor Christopher Lambert, professional Brazillian footballer Ronaldinho, Icelandic strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and boxing heavy hitter Mike Tyson in the second film. RLJ Entertainment and Well Go USA handled both films’ releases, respectively.
The third chapter with Moussi, titled Kickboxer: Armageddon, was announced in 2018 with the actor confirming it in reports last year, although Thursday’s trade updates pretty much confirm what would have been the third film will unlikely be the next phase of the franchise with the new series now in tow.
I have my own opinions about the reboots, just as I do about Logothetis’ post-Kickboxer galavanting on Jiu-Jitsu, but I’m otherwise curious to see if this new series will bring something genuine to the Kickboxer IP. Either this, or someone please help pull that Undisputed series out from that backroom shelf in the offices of Millenium. That’d be nice.
Read more at Deadline.
Lead BG pic: RLJ Entertainment
