Home Entertainment The KICKBOXER reboot just got a cast and director announced

The KICKBOXER reboot just got a cast and director announced

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Kickboxer (1)

We hear a lot these days about reboots. Directors and producers unveil their grand plans to remake a beloved property, before development hell steps in and nudges them, laughing and saying “oh really?”. One upcoming remake that just dodged that bloke and landed a spinning sidekick to the back of the head? Kickboxer, as the classic JCVD flick will be kicking down all kinds of palm trees with a confirmed director and lead actor.

The Cannes film festival is about to kick off (HA!), and with it comes word from the film distributor The Exchange that Kickboxer will be shooting soon. The project has lined up Stephen “Tai Chi Zero” Fung to direct, with veteran stuntman turned leading man Alan Moussi playing Kurt Sloane, the role that made a star out of Jean Claude Van Damme. Kervyn found a nifty image of the guy online, but I’d rather not ask why he was searching for these kinds of pictures late at night:

Alan Moussi

Also slated to appear is UFC champ George St Pierre, who recently got an ass-kicking from Captain America in the Winter Soldier sequel, as well as WWE heavyweight Dave Bautista. I’d bet easy money that Batista will fill in for the brother-breaking role of Tong Po. Released way back in 1989, the film starred JCVD as the brother to Eric Sloane and Eric Sloane’s magnificent mullet, who was broken in a kickboxing match by the resident Muay Thai maniac of Thailand.

Cue a montage, drunken dancing, learning why having meat wrapped to your ankles is a good running exercise and several broken palm trees later, and JCVD was ready to get his revenge on in an underground match with no rules.

Kickboxer (3)

Here’s the official press release:

Brian O’Shea, CEO of The Exchange, has announced a deal to sell the big budget reboot of the 1989 classic KICKBOXER. The Exchange will begin selling this action packed remake at this year Cannes market.

KICKBOXER will be directed by Chinese phenomenon Stephen Fung (TAI CHI ZERO, TAI CHI HERO) and produced hit maker Ted Field of Radar Pictures (RIDDICK Series, THE LAST SAMURAI). KICKBOXER will star UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER), and WWE superstar Dave Bautista (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.) The film will also be introducing Alain Moussi as its lead. Mr. Moussi is a world-renowned stunt man / martial artists, performing in such films as (X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, IMMORTALS, PACIFIC RIM, WHITEHOUSE DOWN). .”Alain is a star and will be an amazing leading man,” said Filed “Like Vin in RIDDICK, Alain will make this movie very special and this KICKBOXER reboot will be the start of an amazing franchise”.

Additional cast will be announced shortly.

David and Kurt Sloan are the descendants of a well-known Venice, California dynasty of champions. Both are top-notch fighters and athletes in the prime of their lives. When David wins the Karate World Championship, a promoter lures him to Hong Kong despite Kurt’s protests that the man is a crook. Not soon after, Kurt receives a letter from David and heads to Thailand to meet him. When he arrives, he discovers his brother is dead. The man responsible is the viscous Tong Po. Desperate to seek revenge, Kurt turns to Xian Chow, his brother’s former mentor. To defeat the man who killed his brother, Kurt must look within himself to find the strength and courage of a champion.

The film is also produced by Dimitri Logothetis and Nick Celozzi. Mike Weber and Peter Meyer will executive produce as well as Brian O’Shea, Jeff Bowler and Nat McCormick for the Exchange.

“I am very excited about KICKBOXER being in Cannes” said O’Shea, “we have a visionary director, a strong Hollywood producer, great cast and an action packed script based on a well known property – what more can you ask for?”

Kickboxer (2)

I’m keen for this. Fung in the directing position gives the film the physical action that it needs, while Alan Moussi at least looks the part. I’m not expecting a world-class story or some emotional acting. I’m expecting a great series of fights tenuously linked by some bad acting and the beautiful vistas of Thailand. That’s what the original film was essentially. And hopefully, that’s what the second movie will be.

Last Updated: May 13, 2014

3 Comments

  1. For me Kickboxer is one of the greatest action / kung fu movies of all time! Have loved that movie since I was a kid!

    I’d love to see a well done remake… They better do a good job with the material they have!

    Reply

    • CypherGate

      May 13, 2014 at 11:57

      I agree. Kickboxer was amazing and still is. I still watch it to this day. I dont know whether they will beat the original (Doubt it), but lets hope they do a great job of carving its own take on the Kickboxer story.

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief in Space

    May 13, 2014 at 12:32

    Kick off? Heh, punny

    Reply

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