jean claude van damme
Van Damme Kicks Into Action For Barbarash's Newly-Wrapped POUND OF FLESH
Believe it or not, this is all we are going to get to see until a proper trailer airs for the forthcoming release of director Ernie Barbarash‘s newest Canadian indie action thriller, Pound Of Flesh. Filmed on-location in Guangdong, China from a script by Joshua James, the film marks Van Damme‘s third outing with Barbarash since 6 Bullets and the Scott Adkins co-starrer, Assassination Games. The film was announced back in January with Van Damme set to portray an ex-military man on a mission to find the people who left him for dead in a bathub full of ice and stole his kidney-originally intended for the dying daughter of his estranged brother.
Principal photography has already wrapped after a three month shoot that began in March, joining Van Damme with action cinema superstar Darren Shahlavi, as well as John Ralston, Marsha Yuen, Jason Tobin, Andrew Ng and veteran actor Aki Aleong, who previously shared the screen in Van Damme‘s 1994 tournament adventure, The Quest. The film also features fight choreography by Hong Kong action veteran and regular Donnie Yen collaborator John Salvitti, and vehicular action by acclaimed stunt coordinator, Bruce Law.
Ace Studios’ Henry Luk produced the film with Kirk Shaw for Vancouver-based Odyssey Media who will also distribute the film, in addition to LA-based Automatic Films and China’s Chunqiu Time Culture Co.
Salvitti‘s work can be next seen in the upcoming release of Yen’s new film, Kung Fu Jungle/Kung Fu Killer/Last Of The Best (title pending I guess). Meanwhile, Van Damme will also appear in the forthcoming home release of director Keith Parmer’s new crime thriller, Swelter this summer.
Barbarash‘s latest martial arts headliner with Michael Jai White, Falcon Rising (formerly known as Favela) is expected to arrive this Fall.
H/T: Screendaily
Blurbs From China: Bruce Le’s Possible Return To Action And Talk Of Hard Target 2
From L to R: Mike Leeder, Wong King-lung, Darren Shahlavi and Mike Moller on the set of Pound Of Flesh
During the course of filming in China for director Ernie Barbarash‘s new Jean Claude Van Damme actioner, Pound Of Flesh, a few updates have dropped during the production process that may leave a few old school kung fu cinema fans and Van Damme fans alike, pretty excited.
While the production itself has already unveiled its fair share of set pics so far during filming, and as it stands, at least one news gem dates back to sometime when a group photo started going viral online. Notably, that photo included actor-turned-director Wong King-lung who worked as a contract player for Shaw Brothers before taking on nom de plume, “Bruce Le”, following Bruce Lee’s passing away in July of 1973.
As it turns out, according to an article written recently by Far East Editor, Asian cinema syndicate and Pound Of Flesh co-star Mike Leeder, Wong is planning a return to the martial arts action genre, which will be further discussed in a forthcoming interview.
As for the second update, Leeder also mentions that there are possible talks for a sequel to accliamed filmmaker John Woo’s 1993 hunter thriller, Hard Target, which could leave room for Van Damme to return to familiar territory as Cajun American daylaborer and skilled survivalist, Chance Boudreaux.
The actor has seen quite a return to form in the last several years, appearing in cult faves like French-language self-titled drama, JCVD, the non-mainstream third and fourth installment of the Universal Soldier franchise, the summer 2012 Hollywood blockbuster, The Expendables 2 and returning to the set once more with Timecop helmer Peter Hyams for Enemies Closer. And with several of his classic hits well on their way to remakes of their own, it would certainly serve the fans nicely to see Van Damme back in action with a sequel. And who knows? Maybe Wong might have place for him.
Then again, Leeder would know better; While little more may be known about these updates until the right time, they are both definitive and noteworthy mentions to hold onto with Leeder being one of the most respected and well-knowing insiders in film journalism for numerous years as reporter, producer and actor. His most recent performances will be seen in the upcoming releases of Helios from directors Sunny Luk and Longman Leung, and director Roy Chow’s Wong Fei Hung reboot, Rise Of A Legend.
As for Pound Of Flesh, fans can expect this one to arrive in 2015. Meanwhile, Van Damme’s next release will arrive on August 12 for director Keith Parmer’s crime thriller, Swelter, courtesy of Well Go USA.
Prepare To Die Laughing At The Hands Of JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMAGE!
Blockbuster action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s latest appeal to comedy has proven positive for the actor in light of his latest laugh-out-loud role in the newly-released Rob Meltzer helmer, Welcome To The Jungle. And this week, the Muscles From Brussels continues to flex it all for a brand new contest being hosted by Funny Or Die for aspiring filmmakers looking for a chance to win some prizes while getting to share some screentime (via crafty-editing) with the actor and martial arts powerhouse.
In light of this, multifaceted independent filmmaking cult favorite and RocketJump co-founder Freddie Wong had some time on his hands recently to collaborate with his friends over at Funny Or Die to get some lenstime for himself with Van Damme in making his own short movie. And for the record, Wong isn’t participating in the contest. But it does go to show that for fans and followers of Wong, the surprises never cease.
Watch, laugh and repeat, and for more info on the contest, CLICK HERE. Also, check your local listings for theater screenings and video-on-demand availability for Welcome To The Jungle!
Jean-Claude Van Damme Kicks Nature In The Face In The New Red Band Trailer For WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!
Legendary action star Jean-Claude Van Damme takes on his first comedic role and joins Adam Brody, Rob Huebel, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone, and Dennis Haysbert in “Welcome to the Jungle”. This laugh-out-loud comedy follows a group of unsuspecting office workers who find themselves stranded on a desert island when a corporate retreat led by unhinged former Marine Storm Rothchild (VAN DAMME) goes horribly wrong. Now Chris (BRODY) and his co-workers must battle nature — and each other — to survive!
JCVD Kicks Nature In The Face In The New Trailer For WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Actor Jean Claude Van-Damme is continuing his latest string of come back films with the pending releases of the Peter Hyams-directed Enemies Closer in January 24, 2014, followed by the forthcoming release of director Rob Meltzer‘s long-awaited nature comedy, Welcome To The Jungle. The latter received a brand new trailer on Tuesday to headline its VoD/limited theatrical release on February 7, and already shows ample humor, comedic action with a fresh cast, over-the-top raunchy gags and overexaggerated spectacle enough to keep JCVD fans attached for the laughs.
Watch The New Trailer For ENEMIES CLOSER
A new trailer is going viral for the upcoming release of the new Jean-Claude Van Damme action vehicle, Enemies Closer. The film is the latest effort reteaming Van Damme with director Peter Hyams since working on the 1994 sci-fi adventure Timecop and the 1995 action thriller Sudden Death, in addition to Universal Soldier: Regeneration and Day Of Reckoning helmer John Hyams who served as cinematographer and editor.
Tom Everert Scott And Orlando Jones Take On JCVD In ENEMIES CLOSER
If being an action movie fan teaches you nothing else, it will teach you that actors Tom Everett Scott and Orlando Jones are prepared to handle themselves on the set of a Peter Hyams action thriller. Yep! The same director who brought you the badassery in the 1990’s Timecop and Sudden Death is ready to deliver you one gritty, brutal, bloody piece of action cinema, partering once again with Jean-Claude Van Damme for their latest film, Enemies Closer. The film tells the story of two sworn enemies who are forced to battle their way through a Van Damme and his small, highly trained army of baddies deep in the night.
Jean-Claude Van Damme Set To Take On Rich Criminals In LUXURY MEETS JUSTICE
The last person I think anyone would expect to step into the field of action cinema would be Michel Adam, founder and sole owner of the 24-hour glamour and beauty-oriented lifestyle network, Fashion TV. Apparently, action is where it is at this stage of his career in having announced a new $40 million dollar project this month with revived Hollywood action star Jean-Claude Van Damme for a new film series called Luxury Meets Justice.
TIMECOP Gets A Reboot, No Van Damme
Looks like LADY BLOODSPORT won’t be the only re-imagining of a Jean-Claude Van Damme classic.
Jean-Claude Van Damme takes on James Lew in TIMECOP (1994). Photo: AMC Films
According to the latest developments over at The Hollywood Reporter, the 1994 science fiction blockbuster, TIMECOP is being observed as a reboot with producers Mark Shmuger and Tom McNulty under the Global Produce banner at Universal. The subsequent success of the first film, based on a Dark Horse Comics publication, led to a sequel starring actor Jason Scott Lee, followed by a video game adaptation and a short-lived television series.
THR also states that the project will not involve Jean-Claude Van Damme, but there is no word yet on who will star in the film or direct it. It is also not the first time the “Muscle From Brussels” has been snubbed by the people re-envisioning one of the most successful films of his career as the actor was most recently snubbed by screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen, who was then developing a script for Phillip Noyce‘s reboot of the tournament action hit, BLOODSPORT, which launched the Belgian kicker to big screen stardom in 1988. Director Peter Hyams maintained Van Damme’s successful legacy, evidently helming TIMECOP, along with the 1995 hostage thriller, SUDDEN DEATH.
In other news, Universal managed to acquire North American and U.K. distribution rights to one of Van Damme’s more recent films, Rob Meltzer’s comedy adventure, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. Van Damme is also involved in an upcoming heist thriller called SWELTER, directed by Keith Parmer.
Van Damme is also slated to appear in ENEMIES CLOSER, with actors Tom Everett Scott and Orlando Jones. The film pairs the action star once more with director Peter Hyams.
Stay tuned for further updates on TIMECOP.
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ORIGINAL TRAILER:
This article was corrected at 1:29pm EST
FILM OF THE WEEK II: DRAGON EYES
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